How were the causes of the Bengal Famine of 1770 and Irish Potato Famine similar?

Answer 1

Both the Bengal Famine of 1770 and the Irish Potato Famine were caused by a combination of natural disasters and colonial exploitation.

1. Natural Disasters: In both cases, the famines were triggered by a failure of the staple crop due to natural disasters. In Bengal, the failure of the monsoon led to a severe drought, while in Ireland, the potato crop was decimated by late blight disease.

2. Colonial Exploitation: Both regions were under colonial rule at the time of the famines. In Bengal, the East India Company's policies exacerbated the famine by increasing taxes on farmers and prohibiting the export of rice, leading to widespread starvation. In Ireland, British land policies had pushed the majority of the population into dependence on the potato as their main source of food, leaving them vulnerable to crop failure.

3. Lack of Government Response: In both cases, the colonial authorities failed to adequately respond to the famine, leading to a much higher death toll than necessary. In Bengal, the British East India Company did not provide adequate relief measures, while in Ireland, the British government's response was slow and inadequate.

4. Social Inequality: Both famines highlighted the social inequality present in the affected regions. In Bengal, the wealthy landlords and British administrators continued to profit from the famine, while the poor suffered starvation. In Ireland, the British government's policies exacerbated existing social inequalities, with the poor suffering the most from the famine.

Overall, the Bengal Famine of 1770 and Irish Potato Famine were similar in that they were both caused by a combination of natural disasters and colonial exploitation, and both highlighted the social inequalities present in the affected regions.