Its fast growing. It has a high harvest turn out. It has been to every continent and space. It changed the course of American history. It stopped Hitler. I'm talking about, of course, the Potato. The potato is one of the most simple plants and crop known to man. Put it in the ground, and it will grow more of itself, nothing complicated. Its history on the other hand is the exact opposite. From the American revolution to WW2, the potato has played an highly important role in history.
The potato itself came from an area now known as Peru. At the time it wasn't the mass producing crop we see today, as that took many years of selective breeding to do so. It was, however, grown on farms owned by the Inca empire. However when you're living in an area with a vast amount of more flavorful plants and tons of fertile soil, you tend to grow the more tasty plants instead. This changed when the Spanish came to the Americas. They took everything they could from the Incas and left. In today's age one would find it funny that one Conquistador chose to bring back potatoes instead of gold, but at the time it really wasn't. The Americas were a brand new land, so a vast majority of plants were deemed exotic and therefore fancy due to them being new. When it got back to Europe, it started to gain popularity. The more potatoes became common, the more they became popular with the poor and less with the rich. Areas with poor weather or soil could now be farmed, which led to an increase in Europe's population. As more people were born in Europe, more people left Europe. A lot of those immigrants left for a brand new colony called “America”
The first major event that the potato influenced was the American revolution. The winter of 1777 was a dark one for America. The winter was cold, harsh and Congress didn't make it any better. Congress was dealing with a case of inflation that it had caused in order to make money, and were able to give very little to the army. Food was running low, as well as other provisions. No farmer would sell the army bread, as they had no way to pay for it. Luckily for the troops, the first important role of the potato was about to happen, in a very interesting story. The soldiers were forced to scavenge and hunt for what food was available. It is noted that as well as fish, deer and little bread, the soldiers also ate potatoes. How they got these potatoes isn't so heroic, it is most likely that they were stolen from farmers fields. The soldiers called these raids on farms “liberation”. This wouldn't be the only time the potato affected US history. Another main event was the Irish potato Famine. It spread the influence of the potato in the US by a huge amount. It also saw a massive increase in the population of Americans, and what will feed all these new people? The potato, and what better place then an untouched, flat area called “Idaho”?’
The 1900s were the start of a very important time for the potato. However, at first it looked like the potato would be a thing of the past. Most countries in Europe were becoming rich, and had no need for the potato. Every country, but Russia. Russia never really had it good. It was never rich, almost always had too many inhabitants and was always trying to sit with the cool Europe nations at the lunch table. Russia was home to very fertile land however, so wheat at first was much more popular then the potato. However, with the outbreak of the first world war, the Russian people were forced to grow potatoes, not because someone ordered them to, but because it was the only thing that they could grow. Wheat isn't incredibly hard to grow. It requires mass desperation to be present if it is to be swapped out. This is what happened during WW1 For the Russians. Mass poverty and lack of manpower with a incredibly cold few winters led to the women to plant potatoes. This managed to feed more troops, but malnourishment was incredibly common. This along with horrible conditions, poor leadership and lack of supplies led to the Russians leaving the war. The war led to 2 rebellions in Russia, one for democracy and then one for Communism. The great depression also saw an increase in potato production. Poor people needed something that was very cheep, and potatoes fit that spot well. They also created some jobs which in turn boosted the economy which everyone enjoyed.
The potato wasn't that common after the great depression. Ironically after a period of economic desperation came one of economic prosperity for almost everyone. Countries like Germany, Britain, France and the USA saw massive economic wealthy. In the east however things weren't so good. China was at war with itself in an absolute mess that I refuse to talk about because I don't want to have a stroke. Russia was poor but not third world nation. All this changed with the outbreak of the second world war.
The potato didn't start to play a big part until operation barbarossa when the Germans broke a non aggression pact with the USSR (Russia) and invaded them. Russia at first lost hard. Lack of equipment and inexperienced commanders (Stalin who was the communist dictator of russia killed massive numbers of high ranking military leaders in a fit of paranoia.) led to the Russians losing vital lands. These lands were incredibly fertile and fed most of Russia and were actually the main goal for the Nazis. Russia still had a massive amount of men that needed to be fed. This was the potatoes main shining moment. Millions of potatoes were planted to feed the men and if it was not for the potato, Germany most likely would have beat the USSR, and then could have conquered the world. The Russians however did come back and comeback incredibly strong. The soviets built hundreds of factories in the Urals and mass produced weapons and equipment. Tankograd for example was a town that produced over 1000 tanks a day. This combined with the Nazis being occupied with the allies in france and Italy (some historians actually argue that italy inadvertently helped the allies with their sheer incompetence) led to the soviets taking Berlin in 1945. After the war the USSR was able to use the farmland they lost to the Germans, and thus potatoes were not needed as much anymore and didn't play that big of a role in Russia. After all, it's the hammer and sickle, not hammer and shovel.
With the event of modern farming potato production is no longer as vast or important. While it is a big part of the economy in some states out in the midwest, it has dropped in production. Though potatoes don't sell for a lot, the massive amount of potatoes that are usually harvested make up for that. While very profitable not many farms grow potatoes. It requires specialized machines to sow and harvest, as well as special machines being needed to cut the foliage. This means that a large investment is needed, and banks usually aren't willing to risk it. So for the time being, potato production will mainly stay at the same level. It still however is making headlines. In 1995 the first plant to be grown in space was the potato. This inspired a part of the book and film “The martian” In which the main protagonist grows potatoes on mars in order to not starve and have oxygen. Potatoes have also been the first thing “grown” in Antarctica. I say “grown” because it never was planted in soil or grown to produce offspring. It simply made its spuds, which is considered growth.
As you have seen the potato is a very simple plant with a very interesting history. Helping George Washington, Influencing American culture, saving the Russians in both world wars, Stopping the Nazis from winning the war, being the first thing grown in Antarctica and finally being the first thing ever grown in space. Quite the story for a little brown starch.
The potato itself came from an area now known as Peru. At the time it wasn't the mass producing crop we see today, as that took many years of selective breeding to do so. It was, however, grown on farms owned by the Inca empire. However when you're living in an area with a vast amount of more flavorful plants and tons of fertile soil, you tend to grow the more tasty plants instead. This changed when the Spanish came to the Americas. They took everything they could from the Incas and left. In today's age one would find it funny that one Conquistador chose to bring back potatoes instead of gold, but at the time it really wasn't. The Americas were a brand new land, so a vast majority of plants were deemed exotic and therefore fancy due to them being new. When it got back to Europe, it started to gain popularity. The more potatoes became common, the more they became popular with the poor and less with the rich. Areas with poor weather or soil could now be farmed, which led to an increase in Europe's population. As more people were born in Europe, more people left Europe. A lot of those immigrants left for a brand new colony called “America”
The first major event that the potato influenced was the American revolution. The winter of 1777 was a dark one for America. The winter was cold, harsh and Congress didn't make it any better. Congress was dealing with a case of inflation that it had caused in order to make money, and were able to give very little to the army. Food was running low, as well as other provisions. No farmer would sell the army bread, as they had no way to pay for it. Luckily for the troops, the first important role of the potato was about to happen, in a very interesting story. The soldiers were forced to scavenge and hunt for what food was available. It is noted that as well as fish, deer and little bread, the soldiers also ate potatoes. How they got these potatoes isn't so heroic, it is most likely that they were stolen from farmers fields. The soldiers called these raids on farms “liberation”. This wouldn't be the only time the potato affected US history. Another main event was the Irish potato Famine. It spread the influence of the potato in the US by a huge amount. It also saw a massive increase in the population of Americans, and what will feed all these new people? The potato, and what better place then an untouched, flat area called “Idaho”?’
The 1900s were the start of a very important time for the potato. However, at first it looked like the potato would be a thing of the past. Most countries in Europe were becoming rich, and had no need for the potato. Every country, but Russia. Russia never really had it good. It was never rich, almost always had too many inhabitants and was always trying to sit with the cool Europe nations at the lunch table. Russia was home to very fertile land however, so wheat at first was much more popular then the potato. However, with the outbreak of the first world war, the Russian people were forced to grow potatoes, not because someone ordered them to, but because it was the only thing that they could grow. Wheat isn't incredibly hard to grow. It requires mass desperation to be present if it is to be swapped out. This is what happened during WW1 For the Russians. Mass poverty and lack of manpower with a incredibly cold few winters led to the women to plant potatoes. This managed to feed more troops, but malnourishment was incredibly common. This along with horrible conditions, poor leadership and lack of supplies led to the Russians leaving the war. The war led to 2 rebellions in Russia, one for democracy and then one for Communism. The great depression also saw an increase in potato production. Poor people needed something that was very cheep, and potatoes fit that spot well. They also created some jobs which in turn boosted the economy which everyone enjoyed.
The potato wasn't that common after the great depression. Ironically after a period of economic desperation came one of economic prosperity for almost everyone. Countries like Germany, Britain, France and the USA saw massive economic wealthy. In the east however things weren't so good. China was at war with itself in an absolute mess that I refuse to talk about because I don't want to have a stroke. Russia was poor but not third world nation. All this changed with the outbreak of the second world war.
The potato didn't start to play a big part until operation barbarossa when the Germans broke a non aggression pact with the USSR (Russia) and invaded them. Russia at first lost hard. Lack of equipment and inexperienced commanders (Stalin who was the communist dictator of russia killed massive numbers of high ranking military leaders in a fit of paranoia.) led to the Russians losing vital lands. These lands were incredibly fertile and fed most of Russia and were actually the main goal for the Nazis. Russia still had a massive amount of men that needed to be fed. This was the potatoes main shining moment. Millions of potatoes were planted to feed the men and if it was not for the potato, Germany most likely would have beat the USSR, and then could have conquered the world. The Russians however did come back and comeback incredibly strong. The soviets built hundreds of factories in the Urals and mass produced weapons and equipment. Tankograd for example was a town that produced over 1000 tanks a day. This combined with the Nazis being occupied with the allies in france and Italy (some historians actually argue that italy inadvertently helped the allies with their sheer incompetence) led to the soviets taking Berlin in 1945. After the war the USSR was able to use the farmland they lost to the Germans, and thus potatoes were not needed as much anymore and didn't play that big of a role in Russia. After all, it's the hammer and sickle, not hammer and shovel.
With the event of modern farming potato production is no longer as vast or important. While it is a big part of the economy in some states out in the midwest, it has dropped in production. Though potatoes don't sell for a lot, the massive amount of potatoes that are usually harvested make up for that. While very profitable not many farms grow potatoes. It requires specialized machines to sow and harvest, as well as special machines being needed to cut the foliage. This means that a large investment is needed, and banks usually aren't willing to risk it. So for the time being, potato production will mainly stay at the same level. It still however is making headlines. In 1995 the first plant to be grown in space was the potato. This inspired a part of the book and film “The martian” In which the main protagonist grows potatoes on mars in order to not starve and have oxygen. Potatoes have also been the first thing “grown” in Antarctica. I say “grown” because it never was planted in soil or grown to produce offspring. It simply made its spuds, which is considered growth.
As you have seen the potato is a very simple plant with a very interesting history. Helping George Washington, Influencing American culture, saving the Russians in both world wars, Stopping the Nazis from winning the war, being the first thing grown in Antarctica and finally being the first thing ever grown in space. Quite the story for a little brown starch.