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Difficulty: EasyCauses of Global Migration

Emigration from Ireland to the United States, 1845–1852

YearNumber of Emigrants
184575,000
1846106,000
1847215,000
1848178,000
1849214,000
1850209,000
1851250,000
1852220,000

Which of the following was the primary cause of the migration trend shown in the table?

  1. A
    The initial introduction of foreign food crops through the Columbian Exchange
  2. B
    The enforcement of mercantilist trade restrictions by the British government
  3. The outbreak of an agricultural potato blight that caused widespread famineAnswer
  4. D
    The recruitment of indentured servants to replace enslaved laborers on plantations

Answer

The outbreak of an agricultural potato blight that caused widespread famine
The correct answer is correct because the dramatic spike in emigration from Ireland starting in 1845 directly corresponds to the onset of the Great Famine. The famine was caused by a potato blight (an agricultural disease) that ruined the primary food crop of the Irish peasantry, forcing millions to flee starvation and poverty by migrating to North America.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the geographical region, timeframe, and trend depicted in the table.
The table illustrates a sudden and massive rise in emigration from Ireland to the United States between 1845 and 1852.
Establishing the temporal and geographic context allows for the isolation of specific historical events.
2
Recall the major environmental and economic crisis in Ireland during this exact timeframe.
The Great Famine (Potato Famine) occurred from 1845 to 1852 due to a potato crop disease.
Linking the dates in the data table directly to the historical crisis identifies the push factor behind the migration.
3
Match the correct historical cause of this crisis to the provided answer options.
The option stating the outbreak of a potato blight is the correct cause of the famine-induced migration.
This option accurately explains the crop failure that drove the demographic collapse and subsequent emigration.

Key Concept

Environmental and economic push factors driving global migration in the nineteenth century
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Topics

Causes of Global Migration

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