ECONOMIC

• highlands

  • The Highland Clearances resulted in the migration of many Highland Scots between 1830 and 1939. The Clearances were forced evictions by Highland landlords who replaced crofters with sheep farming.
  • Landlords made more money from letting land to sheep farmers and creating hunting estates which employed few people compared with crofting.
• highlands

  • The collapse of the kelp industry, especially in the Outer Hebrides, and the fall in demand for black cattle reduced employment in these industries so many workers were forced to move.
  • The failure of potato crop in 1846 led to widespread famine. There was almost no supply of oatmeal for people in the Highlands. 150,000 were at risk of starvation and so moved for their own survival.
• lowlands

  • Agricultural Revolution: changes in farming methods and new technology (eg mechanical reapers/binders and later tractors) meant there were fewer jobs available.
  • Skilled craftsmen such as weavers lost their livelihoods when clothing factories were built and many left to find work abroad because they were replaced by machines.
• lowlands

  • Skilled Scottish workers eg engineers, fishermen and stonemasons were in great demand in the colonies abroad.
  • Wages in Scotland were low compared to those offered in USA and Canada for the same jobs.
• • Foreign competition and lack of demand created significant unemployment in Lowland industries such as mining, ironmaking and fishing.
  • New larger farms were too expensive for most tenant farmers to rent or buy. People had to move to gain employment.
  • Overpopulation in some Highland areas led to subdivision of holdings meaning that there was not enough land to support a family or pay rent, forcing people to move to the Lowlands or emigrate.