The 1845 potato blight struck Ireland after first hitting the United States, but the famine's devastating impact in Ireland was worsened by political and bureaucratic failures. British Prime Minister Robert Peel repealed the Corn Laws to lower food prices but failed to effectively address Irish suffering. Sir Charles Trevelyan, influenced by Malthusian ideas, prioritized protecting markets over saving lives, leading to catastrophic consequences in 1847, known as "Black '47."
Mass evictions by landlords under the Poor Laws displaced countless Irish families, driving many to emigrate. However, Irish immigrants often faced xenophobia and hostility in their new homes, such as in New York City's Five Points neighborhood. Efforts to address the crisis, including those by Irish leaders like Daniel O’Connell and the Young Irelanders, faltered due to political division and limited resources, leaving Ireland in chaos and despair.
