Question

in 1740-1741 extremely cold temperatures struck vast areas of pre-industrial europe, causing harvest failures that led to increased prices for staple food, famine, disease, excess mortality and migration. . . . ireland was probably more vulnerable than most other european countries. already in the first half of the eighteenth century, irish food production was based heavily on potatoes and oats – a pattern of cultivation providing little resilience against the risk of harvest failure after an extremely cold winter. . . . ireland was ill-prepared to deal with the consequences of harvest failure . . . involvement in war (with spain), religious conflicts, and the exclusion of the catholic majority from political participation likewise affected food entitlements of large parts of the population. as a result, ireland experienced excess mortality.
-\the irish famine of 1740-1741,\
s. engler, et al.
according to this passage, what were the causes of the 1740 famine in ireland? check all that apply.
□ extremely cold temperatures
□ a food supply dependent upon two crops
□ lower than normal mortality
□ war and religious conflict
□ protestants being excluded from political participation

Explanation:

1. The passage directly states extremely cold temperatures caused harvest failures leading to famine.
2. It notes Irish food production relied heavily on potatoes and oats, a two-crop system with low resilience to harvest failure.
3. War with Spain and religious conflicts are cited as factors affecting food entitlements and worsening the famine.
4. Lower mortality and Protestant exclusion are not mentioned; the passage references excess mortality and Catholic exclusion from politics, so these are incorrect.

Answer:

• extremely cold temperatures
• a food supply dependent upon two crops
• war and religious conflict