Thande
Donor
I wondered how long it would take before some (expletive deleted) tried to pin a natural disaster on us 
Of course, it works both ways; just as Americans (usually) try to claim that the British response to the potato famine was motivated by some sort of vindictiveness against the Irish, similarly in this country a lot of people claimed that the American response to Hurricane Katrina was motivated by hatred of blacks...both are conspiracy-theory hogwash, of course.
Anyway, I don't think there's that much of an effect on the ACW - too soon afterwards (some fewer troops for the North, but that's it) but it would have a major effect on American culture afterwards. For a start, there'd be less of the ridiculous Irish-Catholic romanticism in late 19th century America, and those Irish already there (who immigrated in the C18) might actually remember that they're supposed to be Protestants Which may affect American attitudes to WW1, although the large German community there will continue to have its say of course.
And without the large Irish Catholic presence I doubt the Fenians will be able to recruit much there in later years, which might result in the Irish Home Rule business getting sorted out before WW1 (the Loyalists can't paint the nationalists black by associating them with American-funded terrorism if it ain't there)...assuming WW1 happens, of course.
Having said that, I don't think this POD is worth much from a scientific point of view - the Irish potato famine was almost doomed to happen at some point ever since Raleigh introduced the potato to Ireland from just a few seed potatoes, hence the whole population had a very low genetic diversity. Hey wait, that means an Englishman was responsible for the famine! Damn three-hundred-year serpentine Elizabethan plans...
Of course, it works both ways; just as Americans (usually) try to claim that the British response to the potato famine was motivated by some sort of vindictiveness against the Irish, similarly in this country a lot of people claimed that the American response to Hurricane Katrina was motivated by hatred of blacks...both are conspiracy-theory hogwash, of course.
Anyway, I don't think there's that much of an effect on the ACW - too soon afterwards (some fewer troops for the North, but that's it) but it would have a major effect on American culture afterwards. For a start, there'd be less of the ridiculous Irish-Catholic romanticism in late 19th century America, and those Irish already there (who immigrated in the C18) might actually remember that they're supposed to be Protestants
Which may affect American attitudes to WW1, although the large German community there will continue to have its say of course. And without the large Irish Catholic presence I doubt the Fenians will be able to recruit much there in later years, which might result in the Irish Home Rule business getting sorted out before WW1 (the Loyalists can't paint the nationalists black by associating them with American-funded terrorism if it ain't there)...assuming WW1 happens, of course.
Having said that, I don't think this POD is worth much from a scientific point of view - the Irish potato famine was almost doomed to happen at some point ever since Raleigh introduced the potato to Ireland from just a few seed potatoes, hence the whole population had a very low genetic diversity. Hey wait, that means an Englishman was responsible for the famine!
Damn three-hundred-year serpentine Elizabethan plans...
