The Clearances

[Jaggy thistle]

There was a lot of voluntary emigration due to many other reasons apart from sheep

[Glen C]

There was a lot of voluntary emigration due to many other reasons apart from sheep

Amen! Though the highland clearances may not be well known or even well taught . Even less well documented are the thousands, like my family who fled for economic reasons. Imagine having a wife, 5 children farming skills and no land to call your own. I can’t even imagine how good unlimited cheap land must have look to them.

[Jack Daw]

When I took American history in grade school, I learned only about indentured servitude and what were some of the reasons why Europeans came to North America. I never heard of the Clearances until someone mentioned Prebble's book and I bought it second-hand.

[Ryan Ross]

Steve,

Do you think it is only Scottish History that people are woefully ignorant of?

I find that sadly, a great number of people I bump into have little grasp of the history of the United States (let alone the rest of the world).

A great truth is that those who delve into history thinking that their ancestors were always "The Good Guys" are bound for disappointment.

Our modern concepts of human rights are going to be challenged by the cruel misdeeds done in the past.

The best we can do is our best to fully understand our history and realize that things are often not black and white.

Cheers

Jamie

More correct, you couldn't be. I'm finishing my B.A. in History, in two weeks. If I've learned anything, its that misinformation is EVERYWHERE. I barely ever read a scholarly text about a topic I've studied, where I don't find issue with some of the "facts" presented.

People think of what we read in books as "history". The truth is, we can get a taste of true history through very careful primary research ONLY- just a taste. If you haven't researched it yourself, or you don't know the researcher personally, YOU CAN NEVER BE 100% SURE. What we read in books/journals/etc... are stories. Historians like to tell a cohesive story. If they don't have the facts to back them up, they fudge (yes, I admit it... I've done it too... but just a little bit!).

I don't want to sound like I'm a cynic, I just want people to be mindful of how much they believe. Even "well established knowledge" is often not real.

[Glamrockdj]

The Clearances are something that is not taught in our schools over here, in fact Scottish history is largely ignored by our schools although there are signs that this is changing.

I know a lot about English history, Russian Revolution etc but no-one wanted to let me learn about my own histroy.

I could be very cynical and give my reasons for why this might be but that will just get us into a debate that I'd rather not get involved in (again)

I agree that some highlanders would have liked to have emigrated to pastures new and seek out a life in the new world, but what about the ones that didn't, there's a big difference from being asked to leave your home and being burned out and left to the elements.

This report comes from some well balanced individuals and is a result of countless hours of research from some very well educated individuals with no particular axe to grind, they also give info from where the info was obtained, well worth a read.

http://www.cranntara.org.uk/clear.htm

[beloitpiper]

Jock, you're entirely right that the blight was natural and humans did not inflict it on the crops.

If you're referring to An Gorta Mór, Greg, I'll just say that it was a complicated matter that involved a lot of factors. However, events leading up to that period in history can certainly be blamed on some.

But Slohairt makes my point. It wasn't the failure of the crops, but the lack of support during the famine that I argue.

[beloitpiper]

People think of what we read in books as "history". The truth is, we can get a taste of true history through very careful primary research ONLY- just a taste.

Even primary sources have a bias. That's why I'm an archaeologist!

[Ryan Ross]

Even primary sources have a bias. That's why I'm an archaeologist!

Then you surely know that archaeology IS the most primary of all research! Read carefully, sonny (and notice that I didn't say "examination of primary documents").

[Arlen]

The Clearances are something that is not taught in our schools over here, in fact Scottish history is largely ignored by our schools although there are signs that this is changing.

I was lucky enough to get taught plenty of Scottish history in School.
The reason for that was likely because we had such a multicultural school that they wanted everyone in the school to be able to come together on the one fact of living in Scotland.

[sharpdressedscot]

You know, I think I know a good reason why people don't know much about history. A new friend I met at the Highland Games last weekend told me something that made me think: History classes are nothing but dates and events to people, because that's all they teach and they get bored with it.

To me history is much more than that, it's a part of who we are.