Irish-American History

Lesson 1: General Introduction to the Period .

Census of 1841

The census of 1841 was based on Hearth Tax figures collected by agents of Dublin Castle. A Tax was payable on any home that had Hearth, Stove or Chimney , so the people living along the roadsides did not figure in the count.

This fact among many others would suggest that the stated population of around 8 million people is way below the actual figures and these unfortunately are the figures which were continually used by the British Government in any form of relief given to the Irish prior to and during the catastrophe of An Gorta Mor.

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