Victims of Ireland's Great Famine (1845–49) emigrating to North America by ship; wood engraving c. 1890. Photos.com/Getty Images
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From 1845 to 1849, the potato crops in Ireland were destroyed by a disease known as the late blight. At this time, Ireland was under rule of Great Britain and potatoes were the staple food of the region. Due to the British government’s lack of response and inadequate resources for the people of Ireland, the majority of the population starved leading to one million deaths.
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