Famine in the Kingdom of Poland in the Mid-19th Century, Exemplified by the Augustów Governorate

Abstract

The article discusses the demographic consequences of crop failures in the northeastern districts of Augustów Governorate in late 1845 and early 1846. It also raises the question of assessing the reliability of the sources that recorded vital statistics in the Russian partition, which revealed many inconsistencies in the registration of deaths, and notes the need for a critical approach when using them. Also highlighted was a wave of famine-induced emigration of peasants and the need for further and in-depth research into demographic crises in mid-19th century Polish lands.

Keywords

• famine
• demographic crisis
• emigration
• Augustów Governorate
• Kingdom of Poland
• 19th century