Question

How was the irish famine of the mid-nineteenth century similar to previous famines?

Answer 1

The biggest thing that the Irish famine in the mid-nineteenth century had in common with previous famines in Europe and other places was that it eventually led to people emigrating from Ireland in order to find better, more reliable sources of food.

Answer 2

It was similar to previous famines insofar that it led to massive emigration from the devastated land. There was virtually no food in Ireland because the potato which was the most important product and most widely used had failed massively and people started dying out of starvation. This led to mass emigration, mostly towards the United States which caused a lot of controversy among the people there for various reasons. Some believed that the Irish workers would take jobs due to low wages, others believed that since they were Catholics, the Pope could through them exert power over the United States.