During the Irish Potato Famine between 1845 and 1849 (McCarthy 88), one million people died within five years and another two million emigrated to other countries (“Ireland” ). Even today, Ireland has not fully recovered from this sudden loss of population (“Potatoes”). Although many attribute this horrendous event to the government's use of Laissez Faire Economics, the real cause of the disaster was the people. The population loss, starvation, and disease resulting from the Irish Potato Famine were self-inflicted by the Irish people's impending decisions regarding the event. countries, and in response these countries did not help Ireland in its time of desperate need. Countries had no concern about Ireland because it was an area of ​​minimal development for industrialism (McCarthy 87). Furthermore, Ireland had no protection from invasions from other countries (McCarthy 87); one reason is that it is an island. Furthermore, Ireland had an underdeveloped supply of raw materials (McCarthy 87), which did not spark speculative interest from other countries. Due to these two main factors, there was no investment in Ireland (McCarthy 87), which left the country isolated and unattended¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ ¬¬ when help was needed. When the potato famine hit Ireland, it primarily affected Western countries (McCarthy 88). Most of the hunger came from the less affluent regions of the country, such as Bonegal to Cork (McCarthy 88). The main food source of these areas was only potatoes because they were a cheap and easily grown crop. In other parts of Ireland, where the land was predominantly grazed or cultivated with different varieties of crops, hunger did not affect people as intensely... middle of paper ......t. Therefore, the government gave help to its people, so the blame should not be on the government for possibly making an effort to improve the situation. They had the right to see if the free market would work on its own, because according to Adam Smith's philosophy, that would be the expected outcome. ruin of what could have happened. Previously, in 1741, Ireland had had a plague that killed 250,000 people (“Irish Potato Famine,” Barnhill), only further demonstrating how unprepared they were when the 1845 plague attacked; even with the knowledge that something similar to famine would happen. Overall, Ireland's impending decisions on how to run their country economically were the main reason why the Irish Potato Famine hit them so hard..