For many years,Ireland had been a land of troubles.The summer of 1845 brought both England and Ireland heavy rain.The English wheat crop was severely damaged,the Irish was not;but the Irish potato crop was ruined.Irish wheat,however,was shipped to England.
The potato had been Irish staple food,Irishmen lived on potatoes for generations.With Irish grains being shipped to England,the Irish faced starvation.Between 1845 and 1847 over half a million Irish died of starvation.To make things worse,typhus spread and thousands more perished.