What Was the effect of the Great Famine on Ireland?

In Ireland there was also a greater feeling of hatred towards the English among the general populous. During the first few years of the famine the Peel led conservative government had intervened. He set up the public works, where a man could work for 8 pence a day. However this was harsh manual labourer, and as it was very physical some died doing this, as they were so malnutrition. The theory was that as it was so harsh only those who were desperate would use it. He also imported huge quantities of maize from India. This was ground into a kind of flour, which was sold at a cut price. Many producers were angry at this arguing it was interfering with the market system. Along with this soup kitchens were provided, this mainly came from charities. At the height of the famine these kitchens were providing nutrition for 3 million people. These schemes kept Ireland going. However that stopped when Peel fell from power and Wiggs were voted into office. There policy of Laissez faire meant that the schemes that Peel had introduced to keep Ireland alive were stopped. Meaning suffering, hardship and death for many of the Irish. This gave the Irish (with good reason) much resentment towards the English. In the years that followed the political attitude of Ireland, as R.F Foster says “…abiding resentment towards England.” These political views lead to the creation of well organised and disciplined nationalist political groups in the years that followed.

Overall there were two major consequences from the Great Famine. The first was the massive decrease in the population in Ireland, and Ireland have still not returned to there pre famine population. Also the other major consequence was a hatred towards the English. The Irish felt let down by the English. As part of the Union the Irish believed that the government should have helped them. They Irish had a right to feel let down. They had been forced in to the Act of Union and they got only the downsides and none of the positives. If the government had acted then the political outlook of the Irish may not have been so anti-English. So the political aftermath was one of discontent and anti English feeling.