What really caused the Irish Potato Famine - Stephanie Honchell Smith

Dig into what caused the Irish potato famine, and explore how the UK government’s response turned the crisis into a catastrophe. -- For over 200 years, potatoes thrived in Ireland; roughly half the country’s residents lived almost entirely on potatoes. But when harvesting began in 1845, farmers found their potatoes blackened and shriveled. While this failed harvest created a crisis, the government’s response turned it into a national catastrophe. Stephanie Honchell Smith digs into Ireland’s Great Famine. Lesson by Stephanie Honchell Smith, directed by Denys Spolitak. This video made possible in collaboration with Gates Ventures Learn more about how TED-Ed partnerships work: Support Our Non-Profit Mission ---------------------------------------------- Support us on Patreon: Check out our merch: ---------------------------------------------- Connect With Us -----------