Soon after the Columbian Exchange began, European ships carried potatoes from the Americas to Europe.

Question

Which was an intentional consequence of that action?

Responses

Over a million Irish died in the famine that resulted when the Irish potato crop, the major source of food and income for Irish farmers, was destroyed by a blight.

Over a million Irish died in the famine that resulted when the Irish potato crop, the major source of food and income for Irish farmers, was destroyed by a blight.

Europeans boycotted potatoes as a means of showing their disapproval with the working conditions of native laborers.

Europeans boycotted potatoes as a means of showing their disapproval with the working conditions of native laborers.

People in northern and western Europe started planting and eating potatoes as an important source of nutrition.

People in northern and western Europe started planting and eating potatoes as an important source of nutrition.

Potatoes replaced wheat and barley as profitable crops in central and southern Europe.

Answer 1

The intentional consequence of European ships carrying potatoes from the Americas to Europe was:

People in northern and western Europe started planting and eating potatoes as an important source of nutrition.

This response reflects the introduction of the potato as a staple food crop in Europe, which had significant impacts on diet and agriculture. The other options pertain to consequences that emerged later or reflect social and economic issues rather than intentional outcomes of the initial introduction of potatoes.