Chapter 4 - Section VI - Economic Condition

Economic Condition Between 1755 and 1801, Scotland’s population increased significantly, putting pressure on the thin soil of the Highlands. The introduction of sheep farming led to the “clearances,” where small tenants were evicted to create large grazing farms, causing migration to towns and overseas.

The Industrial Revolution brought steam power and ironworks to the lowlands, drawing surplus rural labor into cities like Glasgow. Housing conditions in mining areas and industrial towns were often squalid, contributing to high death rates and epidemics. The post-Napoleonic war period brought deflation and hardship, which likely influenced decisions to emigrate.