tionship between (1) the historical and other reasons for the development of a potato dependent culture; and (2) the ways in which Great Britain and local authorities coped with the famine, both its likely eventuality and its incidence.
Development of the Potato Monoculture and Obstacles to Reform
The sustained potato blight of 1845-1849 caught political leaders and government officials by surprise because previous crop failures had been localized, and because, according to Percival, in the early 19th century, "the potato crop had never failed for two years running" (42). Ireland had been relatively prosperous during the 18th century. It benefitted from the strong demand and high prices for agricultural products during the Napoleonic wars. However, according to Whelan, after 1815, "agricultural prices halved" and "the linen industry was dislocated by the advent of factory-spinning and weaving" (25). Belfast and its environs prospered due to the introduction of power looms in the linen industry. Almost all of Ireland other than Ulster remained agricul
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