Hannaleigh Jennings, “The Great Potato Revolution”
Mentor: Nigel Rothfels

The goal is to understand how potatoes changed the Irish agricultural, political, economic, and social landscapes from the 16th to 18th centuries. To understand that, several questions must be answered. When did potatoes arrive in Europe, and more specifically in Ireland? Where are the potatoes that were brought to Ireland from in the Americas? Did the Irish cultivate these potatoes further, and if yes, how? Once that is discovered, one can begin to delve into the impact this crop had on Ireland. There will be a focus on changes in farming practices as well as in land ownership. Specifically, a focus on how potatoes may have played a part in the implementation of enclosures. In respect to enclosures, there may also be the implications of the economic role potatoes play in regards to their demand in the free-market. Another emphasis will be how the introduction of potatoes changed the Irish diet and their familial structure. It is entirely possible that Irish family units were impacted by potatoes, whether it resulted in larger families or common households with extended family members. Additionally, there will be an effort to search for any other social or cultural changes due to the integration of potatoes in Ireland. To conduct this research I will look through trade records, shipping logs, maps, government documents, and personal accounts such as diaries. Potatoes are a historical agent, especially in their introduction into Irish life as they certainly made major changes to agriculture, politics, economics, and society as a whole.