The Clearances

[ThistleDown]

I think that if one is going to frame the causes of the Highland clearances solely in terms of some sort of "post Culloden" Highland experience, then I'd have to reluctantly agree with Henry Ford's oft quoted line that "history is bunk". For some land owners the clearances were due, in great measure, to an economic shift in government policy occasioned in part by the staggering costs of the Napoleonic Wars. In other words, taxes. Agrarian blight on a scale comparable to that in Ireland also played its role in the depopulation of the Highlands and also in other parts of rural Scotland.

While it is popular to blame the clearances on "greedy land owners", to the point that this anti-land owing mantra has achieved an almost theological status, the real causes go far beyond the actions of a few factors acting on the instructions of those in control of encumbered estates.

I'm sorry, but "pop histories" and novels about the plight of "the poor Highlander" -- as emotionally stirring as they may be -- are as poor a substitute for real, in depth, history as "Uncle Tom's Cabin" would be if one wanted to actually know the root causes of the American war between the States.

Two better sources for the history of that lengthy emigration process than those popular writers who regurgitate the romantic belief in the cruel and uncaring land owner: Prof J'M Bumsted's "The People's Clearnce, 1770-1815" and Prof R.A. Dodgshon's "From Chiefs to Landlords". The first finds fault with the tale of an oppressed, impoverished peasantry driven off the estates to make way for sheep. The second shifts the emphasis from the popular notion of a lawless warrior society to the far more realistic and understandable one of relationship changes between chiefs and their tenant-clients, development of new farming systems, production strategies and marketing methods.

Bumsted and Dodgshon both claim the clearances were far more protracted than the period 1745 to 1820 and had their roots in the mid-17C, if not earlier. They don't ignore those landlords who forcibly evicted their tenants, but insist that this process long preceded the '45 in many parts of the Highlands and happened not at all in just as many parts during the so-called clearance years.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

On the flip side, without the Clearances much of North America's, Australia's, and New Zealand's recent histories would be significantly different.

You would of thought then, if they had themselves been displaced, they wouldnt of gone to (for Example NZ) and assisted the Government (Crown etc) in dispossessing another group of native people (Maori) of their land.

And having taken / purchased and or used other means to get the land, they wouldnt let them turn it in the exact same thing, after all, NZ is one big dairy and sheep farm...

Where is the ironry in that...

(This coming from some whos Irish family members were some of the orginal Fencible settlers in NZ)

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

*****

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Right ok then, I have purchased through a local Uni', a copy of (for my own continuing education)

Lands for the People?
The Highland Clearances and the Colonisation of New Zealand
A biography of John McKenzie, by Tom Brooking.

And from the back of the book.

"...Tom Brooking traces McKenzies background as a child who witnessed the highland clearances, and as an immigrant of modest means who believed strongly in the right of ordinary people to own land. He points to the paradox that his legislation advanced the process by which Maori were dispossed of their lands..."

Hhmmm, this sounds like my above post...funny that.

But on a side note, obviously MAc' Rath' was upset by my comment, and deleted his post, if you would like to continue this discusiion in private please feel free to PM me, and I assure you it will be an open and honest converstaion between us.

Phil C

[Bruno]

One thing I do know for certain is that no one living now has any right to judge historical people and their actions. The fact is the world is a very different place every 50 years changes thing immensely.

What our grand parents held as the norm (racism was institutionalised as was sexism, homosexuals were locked up and or chemically castrated etc) we would find terrible. What we hold as the norm now, one day will be judged by others.

Its easy to sit here in our ivory towers and judge the clearances, but they were different times with different values and different people.

[macwilkin]

One thing I do know for certain is that no one living now has any right to judge historical people and their actions. The fact is the world is a very different place every 50 years changes thing immensely.

What our grand parents held as the norm (racism was institutionalised as was sexism, homosexuals were locked up and or chemically castrated etc) we would find terrible. What we hold as the norm now, one day will be judged by others.

Its easy to sit here in our ivory towers and judge the clearances, but they were different times with different values and different people.

History instructor bonnet on: I thank you, sir!

Todd

[BoldHighlander]

History instructor bonnet on: I thank you, sir!

Todd

As do I!!

[ForresterModern]

The general adage of "history is told by the victors", or a slightly different bent "history is told by the survivors", leads most historians to believe that the stories untold were at least as bad if not worse than the stories told, allowing obviously for the potential for exaggeration under certain circumstances.

But as above, times were different, norms were different. Better to look back on it and learn from it than dwell on it or try to distribute blame for some of the outcomes. That is why it is called history---it is in the past and, excpet for its educational value, should be left there. Too many leftover vengences and residual hatreds present in todays world.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Originally Posted by Bruno
One thing I do know for certain is that no one living now has any right to judge historical people and their actions. The fact is the world is a very different place every 50 years changes thing immensely.

What our grand parents held as the norm (racism was institutionalised as was sexism, homosexuals were locked up and or chemically castrated etc) we would find terrible. What we hold as the norm now, one day will be judged by others.

Its easy to sit here in our ivory towers and judge the clearances, but they were different times with different values and different people.

History instructor bonnet on: I thank you, sir!

Seconded...

All valid points.

[vipermcgee]

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.
...

Cheers

Jamie

Not to detract from this thread, but I have to pleasure of being a decendant of a gang of post-civil war outlaws that settled in the area known as Crowley's Ridge in northeastern Arkansas. I know that my family wasn't the good guys, at least once. Still, it is my heritage, and since I wans't there or a participant, I am not ashamed of it.

Now, back to the clearances... Where can I find more RELIABLE information. I have no Idea what this thread is actually aboout. I expected a rant about a clearance sale or something... now I really feel ignorant... LOL
Robert