The Hungry 40s

Potato Blight

a fungus of blight hits the potatoes in 1845, temporarily removed from the European diet

France, Northern Germany, and Britain

also affected by potato blight, Britain has more stable prices thanks to corn (grain) laws

Cash Cows

building and investing in railroads were called this since people made a ton of money off of them

Political Activists

gain more attention since they are upset with what's going on in Europe during the 1840s, promote national determination, the right to vote, and promise to work on economic problems

1848 Political Blowup

more people start listening to radicals out of desperation

Railroad Bubble Bursts

people started losing money on railroad investments when the craze starts slowing down

Weak Grain Harvestt

prices rise up even more, there's still food but it's very expensive, agricultural crisis, wealthy people are also hurt since all of their money is going into food

Unemployment

rises when factories start laying people off

Prices

surge everywhere!

Ireland

very affected by potato blight, a million people die from starvation, a million come to the United States out fo desperation, a million people go to Britain