How does the English government's attitude toward the Irish during the Irish famine in the late 1840's reflect the motivations for imperialism?

Obviously, the British didn't give a d**n about the Irish peasants. The British just wanted to take what they wanted from Ireland.

So, in this way, the British became imperialistic over Ireland? The British supressed Ireland's rebellions only to keep making the Irish export wheat and Barley?

Yep. The British treatment of the Irish wasn't the start of Britains imperialistic motives in Ireland.

Thanks, Ms. Sue!

You're welcome, Chris!

To understand how the English government's attitude toward the Irish during the Irish famine reflects the motivations for imperialism, we first need to define imperialism. Imperialism refers to a policy or ideology where a powerful nation extends its influence over other territories or peoples through various means, such as economic, political, or military control.

During the Irish famine in the late 1840s, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom, which was under British rule. The Irish famine, also known as the Great Famine or the Great Hunger, occurred when a potato blight ravaged the potato crop - a staple food source for the Irish population. This led to widespread starvation, disease, and mass emigration from Ireland.

The English government's attitude and response to the Irish famine can be seen as reflecting certain motivations for imperialism. Here are a few key points to consider:

1. Economic Control: England's ruling elite viewed Ireland as an agricultural colony that supplied food and raw materials to sustain the British Empire's industrialization. During the famine, Irish agriculture was oriented towards cash crops like grain, which continued to be exported despite the growing starvation crisis among the Irish population. This reflects the economic motive of imperialism, where the exploitation of colonies and their resources served the interests of the imperial power.

2. Political Subjugation: The English government's response to the famine emphasized maintaining political control over Ireland rather than addressing the humanitarian crisis. Policies such as the continued enforcement of the British land tenure system, which favored absentee landlords and commercial agriculture, served to maintain British influence and control. This reflects the political motive of imperialism, where maintaining dominance over subject territories is prioritized over the well-being of the indigenous population.

3. Social and Racial Attitudes: Many British officials and intellectuals held prejudiced views towards the Irish, considering them as racially inferior or culturally backward. These perspectives justified the neglectful response to the famine and a lack of empathy towards the Irish population. Such attitudes reflect the ethnocentric motivations often associated with imperialism, where the dominant power considers their culture or race as superior to that of their colonies.

It is important to note that imperialism is a complex phenomenon, driven by various factors and motivations. While the English government's attitude toward the Irish during the famine can be seen as reflecting some motivations for imperialism, it is not the sole factor that shaped their actions.