It is starvation, lack of water, and lack of money and goods.
It started with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, but 10 years later it then came to the US opening Ellis Island in which immigrates had spent time before being able to actually enter the US.
The Sugar Boycott was led by members of the Quaker faith, including important female voices such as Elizabeth Heyrick from Leicester who recognised the ways in which the sugar trade was helping to support the slave trade.