While the Crop Grows Ireland Starves

While the Crop Grows Ireland Starves

May 13, 1849

1845-1852

This is a political cartoon about the Irish Potato Famine. This cartoon is meant to show the different approaches England used in dealing with Ireland's Potato Famine. Robert Peel who had been Prime Minister up until 1846 as the famine was beginning had a Plantation Scheme approach that is to not do much of anything and allow the Irish to slowly be extinguished by the famine then allow Englishmen to settle there and therefore get rid of the Celts once and for all. On the other hand the next Prime Minister Lord John Russell had the Rate in Aid approach which was basically having Ireland pay a tax before England would send them any aid. Both of these plans angered and agitated the poor destitute Irish. The English saw the Irish as unwilling to accept aid, but in actuality England was unwilling to provide real aid. Everything they provided had too many strings attached.

English

"The Puppet-Show"

Crowley, John, William J. Smyth, Michael Murphy, and Charlie Roche. 2012. Atlas of the great Irish famine. New York: New York University Press. (pg.84)

Politics

Amanda Dison

Political Cartoon