Effect+on+Larger+Farmers

The Effect of Famine on Farmers


 * It was the small farmers, such as cottiers, that virtually vanished in the years after the famine. As the graph shows, farms less than 5 acres accounted for 45% of all farms in 1841, but only 15% a decade later. Many of those who had been evicted emigrated or became paid laborers for other farmers. Many other farms were purchased by large-scale farmers. In general, living conditions seem to have improved, (although it should be stated that some researchers disagree). Before the famine, a third of people lived in fourth-class (the worst) housing. By 1851, it was 10%. Literacy and personal savings also increased. **


 * The strong farmer became the ultimate beneficiary of the famine. With both a weakened cottiers class and a weakened Landlord class, they were able to acquire lands and add them to their holdings. The number of farms over 15 acres increased from 19% in 1841 to 51% of all holdings a decade later. In retrospect, this can be regarded as a non-violent Peasant revolution, spurred by the famine, and resulting in most farmers changing from being tenants to being land owners ** . **Farmers rented farms from landlords.**