The story of the Highland Clearances and how it destroyed the Highland way of life is one of the most tragic chapters in Scotland's long history. More than two hundred years after the Clearances began, anger and bitterness still rages among descendents of Scottish immigrants who fled, or were imprisoned and enslaved at the peak of the crisis. But like public opinion at the time, the dialogue swings as a pendulum, from one extreme to the other, and in the late 1700's, the Highlanders caught the brunt of this - or rather the edge - like the medieval torture device.

In the 1700's there were two distinct societies in Scotland. In the lowlands, the people were a mixture of all the races that had invaded England and the Isles. Lowlanders spoke a version of English and lived in a society based on the emerging mercantile economy.

The Highlanders on the other hand, were largely Celtic in ancestry with a sprinkling of Viking (or Norse) and a few other races. The Highlanders spoke Gaelic, and lived in a largely feudal society based on loyalty and power, not money.

The Clan system had been in place for a very long time in the Scottish Highlands. It was the only way of life the Highlanders knew and understood completely. Under the Clan system, the Clan Chief controlled the land and 'leased' out portions to tacksmen, who in turn leased portions to others. The fees or lease for the properties were very small monetarily, as most of the payment was considered in loyalty to the Chief and, therefore, service militarily when the need arose. The more land a Clan Chief had, the larger his army as a very general rule.

But this system was to soon die, and it was replaced by a system based on money that the Highlanders did not understand and, it seems, were totally unable to adapt. This was not their fault, however, as the land was harsh and the climate was generally cold. These factors combined to make the prospect of making money in the Highlands difficult indeed.

Much of the power of the Clan system was broken after the Battle of Culloden. The Clan Chiefs who participated in the 'revolt' were forced to forfeit their lands to the Crown in England. Those who were not killed at Culloden were hunted along with many of their followers. Many escaped to the colonies, while others were captured, killed, jailed and enslaved.

Shortly after the defeat at Culloden, laws were passed that totally changed the way of life in the Highlands. These Acts prohibited the wearing of the kilt, the carrying of arms, the teaching of Gaelic and even the playing of the bagpipes. More importantly, one of the acts required that all Clan Chiefs swear fealty to the British King: those who did not were immediately forfeit of their lands. The Act also changed the law of the Highlands, as the Clan Chief no longer had the right to act as judge over the people of his lands. He now became strictly a landlord, without the ability to legally call his tenants into service for any cause. This also removed the ability to help his tenants in their time of need.

The lands stripped from Clan Chiefs of Culloden and those of the Chiefs who refused to swear fealty were now the property of the British Crown. These, of course, were parcelled out to people who supported the English cause. Many were lowland Scots, and some (although few) were actually English brave enough to move into the Highlands or intelligent enough to hire someone else to work or manage their land. The remainder of Scotland was in the hands of the Clans that either did not support the rebellion of 1745 or did so discretely enough that they did not lose their rights to their holdings. These lingering holdings became in many cases, small islands of the old system. The loyalties of the Clans remained with their Chief and, although he could not press his call to service by law, he could count on their gratitude when the time arose.

It is here that a very clever codicil in the British law about Highland Dress came into effect. The Acts against wearing the Tartan, carrying or owning weapons and speaking Gaelic were greatly resented by the Highlanders. Their way of life was stripped from them and they were now forced to live with or in close proximity to lowland Scots and the English. There was one way, however, which enabled them too not only openly wear the Kilt, but to carry weapons again and play their beloved bagpipes. This was through service in the British Army. In particular, service in the Highland Regiments of that army.

Unfortunately for Scotland, many a warrior answered the call, as the temptations to retain ones way of life and be with others of one's kind were in many cases easier to handle than dealing with the changes at home. To their credit, the Highland Regiments were some of the best units in the British Army. But these units paid sacrifices for their service, as they were immediately shipped and used overseas to help in pacifying others to the English cause. Frequently, these units were committed first to the battles and bore the brunt of the fighting. By this means Scotland was now stripped of the remainder of its warriors.

The power of the Scottish Clan system was now gone with its warriors. The Clan Chiefs who remained in power were simply landlords, without any real authority in the British legal system. Highland Scotland, almost always penniless, was now toothless as well, and ripe for the plucking.

By BW, March 2000

Back to Highland Clearances Main Page

Highland Clearances Part One

Highland Clearances Part Two

Highland Clearances Part Three

Links:

The Acts Against Highland Dress

Bonnie Prince Charlie

A Story of the '45