Final answer:
The Great Famine, also known as the Irish Potato Famine, was the event that led to the deaths of one-tenth of the population in many towns. It was caused by the failure of the potato crop, resulting in mass starvation and disease in Ireland.
Step-by-step explanation:
The event that led to the deaths of one-tenth of the population in many towns was the Great Famine. The Great Famine, also known as the Irish Potato Famine, occurred in the mid-19th century in Ireland. It was a period of mass starvation and disease due to the failure of the potato crop, which was a staple food for the Irish population at that time.
The failure of the potato crop was caused by a combination of factors, including a plant disease called late blight and the dependence of the Irish population on a single crop. As a result, people suffered from extreme poverty, malnutrition, and ultimately, death.
The impact of the Great Famine was devastating, with approximately one million people dying and another million emigrating to escape the dire conditions. The population decrease was particularly severe in towns and rural areas, where the dependency on agriculture and the potato crop was highest.
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