Question

During the Irish Emigration to America, the ship journey lasted for approximately 40 days and about _______ percent of emigrants died before reaching America.

• A. 20
• B. 40
• C. 50
• D. 60

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

20

Of the 100,000 Irish that sailed to British North America in 1847 during the Great Irish Potato Famine (1845 to 1849), an estimated one out of five died from disease and malnutrition, including over five thousand at Grosse Isle. That estimates to 20 per cent of emigrants, hence, Option A is correct. None of the other figures correspond to the official records of mortality, hence, incorrect.