Europe in the 19th century faced many problems. In Ireland, the English had a large part of the land.

One more problem arrived: it rained a lot in Ireland in the 19th century! From 1845 to 1848, the rain didn't stop in the autumn and winter: potatoes didn't grow but rotted (and Irish people could not eat!).

Many Irish people died (about half of the population!!).

This black and white picture shows an "eviction": rich English farmers wanted more lands in Ireland and they evicted Irish farmers from their farms.

Irish farmers could not resist the masters of the country (remember the English arrived in Ireland in 1170).

For the rest of the Irish people, the choice was very limited. There were two possibilities: to stay in Ireland (and live under very difficult conditions) or to leave and try a better life in the country where all European immigrants wanted to go: America.