2. Why were Irish emigrants pushed out of Ireland? (PUSH Factors)

1. Ireland had very little industry to provide jobs.


2. Ireland’s population had grown rapidly.


3. Jobs in spinning and hand weaving were disappearing due to new factories in Britain.


4. Landowners evicted tenants who could not afford to pay high rents. They also started to use modern farming methods which needed less workers.


5. Irish Catholics were prevented from doing some government jobs. Protestants got a better deal.


6. The potato famine meant that there was no longer enough food to support the population.