The Highland Clearances

The Highland Clearances were a series of forced evictions in the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. Landowners sought to replace traditional farming with more profitable sheep farming, leading to the displacement of many tenant farmers and their families. This often violent process resulted in widespread poverty, emigration, and cultural disruption as communities were uprooted. The Clearances significantly impacted Scottish society and contributed to a legacy of conflict over land rights that continues to resonate today, shaping Scottish identity and diaspora narratives.