Changes

====Socio-Economic Impact====

Perhaps the most significant economic impact of the famine was a change like landholding and agriculture. Before the Great Famine, the vast majority of Irish families suffered on farms that were less than two acres. They survived on what they could grow, mostly potatoes. However, after the famine, this was no longer possible. One of the Famine's main impacts was that farms became larger to ensure that they provided families with a sustainable level of income. Many landowners, who mostly lived in London, sought to exploit the situation in the Famine's aftermath. Many of their low tenants had left the land and their farms. The landowners sought to encourage livestock rearing on their estates, which was more profitable. Increasingly, Ireland moved from arable farming to livestock rearing. However, this led to a great deal of unemployment in the country and did not benefit the poor. As a result, Ireland remained a poverty-stricken country.

==Emigration==

For many decades after the Famine, there was large scale emigration from Ireland. It led to a decline in the Irish population. In 1840 there were 8 and a half million people in Ireland. In 1960 there were only 4.5 million, despite the country having a high birth rate. Many Irish people had left the country for America and elsewhere before the Famine.<ref>Foster, p. 134.</ref> However, because of the Famine, millions were to leave the country. This was to have dramatic consequences for the populations of many countries. Soon there were substantial Irish communities all over the world. These Irish emigrants helped to develop the economics of their new homes. Irish emigrants settled on the frontier in countries such as America, Canada, and Australia. Emigrants from Ireland helped these nations to expand and to grow. However, as many of the Irish were Catholics, this led to sectarian tensions with existing Protestant communities in countries such as America and Canada.<ref>Foster, p. 245.</ref>

====Conclusion====

The Famine was an extraordinary tragedy for Ireland. It led to mass starvation and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. It decisively shaped Irish society for many decades and even to the present day. The Famine resulted in increased tensions not only between Catholics and Protestants but between Britain and Ireland. These tensions led to violence and instability for many years. Its most "durable legacy" was the continuing high emigration levels from the country, which lasted until at least the 1990s.<ref>Foster, p. 345.</ref> This was a tragedy for Ireland, and as a result of emigration, the Irish population has still not recovered to its pre-Famine level. However, the Famine led to a massive emigration wave and had significant consequences for many nations, especially North America. Irish emigrants helped countries such as Canada and America to fulfill their potential and become great countries.