Why Had the Potato Become the Staple Diet in Ireland in the 1840s?

Why had the potato become the staple diet in Ireland in the 1840's
The introduction of the potato in the sixteenth century heavily influenced Irish culture, including its agriculture and the fluctuation of its population. The reason the Irish became so dependant on the potato was due to the colonial system. When Britain was experiencing an industrial revolution, Ireland failed to do so due to a lack of natural resources such as iron ore and coal. Even though Ireland was mainly an agricultural economy and had vast supplies of cattle, her economy was deeply affected by the land owning structure, which the British had created. This encouraged a subdivision system, helping to increase the population and forcing the Irish to rely heavily on one food source.
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