Question 1

True or false: A potato disease called late blight was a major cause of the Great Famine of Ireland.

Accepted Answer

True. Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, devastated potato crops, which was the primary trigger of the famine, compounded by economic and political factors.

Question 2

True or false: The Great Famine of Ireland ended in 1848 after the potato crop recovered.

Accepted Answer

False. The Great Famine lasted from 1845 to 1852. The blight returned in 1846 and 1848, and conditions only improved after 1852.

Question 3

True or false: The Great Famine of Ireland killed more than two million people.

Accepted Answer

False. The commonly accepted death toll is about one million, not over two million. Some estimates are slightly higher but do not exceed 1.5 million.

Question 4

True or false: The Great Famine of Ireland was caused by the Irish people's laziness and poor farming practices.

Accepted Answer

False. The famine was caused by a potato blight, not by human failings. This myth was a prejudiced stereotype promoted at the time.

Question 5

True or false: The Great Famine of Ireland resulted in the deaths of approximately one million people.

Accepted Answer

True. Historical estimates place famine-related deaths from starvation and disease at about one million between 1845 and 1852.

Question 6

True or false: The Great Famine of Ireland led to the emigration of over one million people, mostly to North America.

Accepted Answer

True. Massive emigration, especially to the United States and Canada, was a direct consequence of the famine.

Question 7

True or false: The Great Famine of Ireland was the only famine to occur in Ireland during the 19th century.

Accepted Answer

False. The 19th century saw other famines in Ireland, including the Irish Famine of 1879 and a famine in 1822. Therefore, the Great Famine was not the only one.

Question 8

True or false: The Great Famine of Ireland caused Ireland's population to drop by over 20% in a decade.

Accepted Answer

True. Pre-famine population was about 8.2 million; by 1851 it was around 6.5 million, a decline of over 20% from death and emigration.

The Great Famine of Ireland Trivia Questions