The Irish Potato Famine was a time of starvation, disease and emigration, and was known as one of the greatest tragedies from 1845 to 1847. Many people depended on potato crops to survive; however [comma] the potato crops caught late blight, a disease that caused the potatoes to rot while still in the ground. For two years it was not possible to grow a good crop [comma], Irish tenant farmers were unable to pay rent and were forced to abandon their lands, resulting in the starvation of over 21,000 people. The Irish Potato Famine caused many people to leave Ireland to seek work abroad in areas such as England and America. The Irish Potato Famine had a major impact on Ireland's history and economy. The Irish Potato Famine caused great losses and created long-term effects on the economy during this historical period. The English and Irish considered the outbreak of famine inevitable; however, many believe that the disaster could have been avoided with more decisive government action. Some have accused the government of failing to adopt economic theories for the potato plague. The Whig government led by Lord John Russell from 1846 to 1852 severely worsened the effects of the Irish Potato Famine; causing almost an eighth of the population to starve. The Irish Potato Famine was far more destructive to human life than most famines in history. In Ireland many were poor and needed the potato harvest to keep them from starving. Many also needed to harvest potato crops to earn money to pay landlords' rent for plots that tenants rented to avoid losing their land. The effects of the Irish Potato Famine had a huge impact on Ireland's economy. The loss of potato crops created a food gap so huge that… half the paper… in Canada, yet 70% of emigrants went to the US to work. The author lays out his facts about emigrants working in America as Irish emigrants who have no other skills than working in factories and railroads. Women who could speak English got jobs in America as servants to the rich. This article is a useful example for understanding the type of skills the Irish possessed after the Irish emigrated to America and the jobs the Irish obtained.Woodham-Smith, Cecil “The Great Hunger” (1989) Old Town BooksThis article provides useful information and concise information about the hunger experienced by the Irish during the Irish Potato Famine. The author shows issues such as; starvation in Ireland during the Irish Potato Famine. The author argues that the government could have been more involved in helping the Irish during the Irish Potato