What, where and when were the highland clearances?

Question

What, where and when were the highland clearances?

Answer 1

The expulsion of residents of the Scottish Highlands in the late 18th century

Answer 2

After 1745 many changes were afoot. Many people were migrating into the factory towns of the lowlands, whereas in the past they had grown their own food, they now needed to purchase food. With this growing market to sell to, landowners could now make large profits from farming their land more efficiently. People became interested in new ways of farming – crop rotation, land drainage, new farm machines – to grow more food and increase profit.

Highland landowners had shared the land with their clansfolk – now they were introducing new farming ideas to make more money for themselves. Factors or managers were employed to oversee the farm work and tacksmen were no longer needed.

It was not long before the proprietors of the great estates understood that the way to realise much larger amounts of cash from their lands was to get rid of their people.