The Research On British Government’s Rmeasures For The Irish Famine In The Middle Of The Nineteenth Century

The Irish famine is an important event in Irish history.It also is significant nodal point in relationship between England and Ireland. The famine had a profound effect on politics, economy and culture in Ireland, then dominated historical course in Anglo-Irish relationship.The research on Irish famine, especially on the cause of the famine and relief policy of English government, has disputes and differences in Academic circles. Contemporary historian focus is how to scan the famine objectively. With the usage of new methods and the application of new materials, Scholars’ comprehension of Irish famine has gradually become objective and true. Thus the Irish famine shows us a more comprehensive and true picture. The dissertation makes use of British Parliamentary Papers (House of Commons), then discusses mainly English government response to the famine and relief policy, commencing from Anglo-Irish relationship.The dissertation consists of seven parts, including an introduction, five chapters as main content and conclusion.In the introduction, the author defines the conceptions such as Irish famine, Anglo-Irish relationship, explains significance of the theme. Both domestic and foreign literature in this regard has been reviewed so as to rationalize the theme. In addition, the research theory and means in the paper are illustrated. Lastly, the author interprets the primary points of innovation about the theme.Chapter1introduces the outline of Irish nature, history, politics and economy before Irish famine.It provides macro-background for analyzing the famine.At first, It summarizes the geography of nature and history; Secondly, It begins to discourse the background of the famine, It mainly includes political aspect, especially focuing on emphasis on Anglo-Irish relationship after Act of Union passed, It is a frame of reference of relief policy. On the one hand economic condition before the famine relates to the occurrence of the famine, on the other hand, It is a starting point which English government draws up relief policy.In the third, pre-famine famines happened frequently in Irish history,the measures dealt with the famines provide consultations and lesson.In the end,the author presents briefly potato blight and the coming of famine.Chapter2discusses two main viewpoint about Irish famine research, namely nationalism perspective and revisionism standpoint, then points out their shortcomings. Based on it, the author puts forward relatively comprehensive and objective understanding of Irish famine.As an analyzing tool, Exchange Entitlement thesis is introduced into famine research.This is an innovation point of the dissertation.and helps to deepen the comprehension of the famine.Charter3is the core of the dissertation.It disserts the relief policy of English government during the famine.Before narrating relief policy, the author illustrates the starting post of the relief policy:(1)Consideration into protecting traditional British security;(2)Demand on transforming Irish society.The chapter extracts three factors affected British government relief policy.(1) The political environment;(2)Economic thought and economic situation;(3)Public opinion, relief policy of British government includes Robert Peel government relief policy,relief by public works, soup kitchens relief,Poor Law relief,emigration.The author assesses relief policy by analyzing the policy affect.Chapter4stresses the role of unofficial relief.Most famines studies have focused on the role of government, paying little attention to the contribution made by private relief and church relief.Both are main part of unofficial relief. They actively take part in famine relief.Even if government relief wouldn’t reach the areas, they had played an important role.Private charity mainly stems from landlords and Irish relief, British people relief and overseas relief.It is necessary to emphasize church relief. In this chapter, the Catholic Church and non-Catholic Church (Quaker) become the focus of the study.The author narrates Quaker’s relief actions and enrich the research on the Irish famine.Chapter5analyzes the effect and lesson of the Irish famine.On the one hand, Irish famine has an effect on Irish economy, politics and culture, the famine results in the decline in population and the lack of labor. These do harm to economic development.On the other hand, the famine worsens strained Anglo-Irish relationship, and has an influence on British security.The famine teaches us profound lessons.The conclusion illuminates the cause of Irish famine.The famine is the result of multiple factors combined action.For example,Irish agricultural backwardness, monoculture,the inadequacy and delay of British government relief, lead to the famine.British government is blame for the famine,but the viewpoint that British government create the famine or the government relief policy is "holocaust" is incorrect. We should gain lessons from the Irish famine to serve for nowday famine administration.