Reasons for Internal Migration within Scotland

Question 1

Reasons for migration (from Highlands)

Answer 1

• Poverty - increased population, subdivision of land into crofts over generations meant land could not support number of people.
• Highland clearances - many pushed off land by landlords who thought they would make more money from sheep farming and deer farming/hunting. .
• Industrialisation - labour saving equipment, hand loom weavers put out of business by power looms.
• Decline of herring fishing industry - especially after Russian Revolution & collapse of Eastern European markets. Trawlermen & gutters lost jobs.
• Subsistence farming - just enough grown to survive on, if there was a bad harvest, people would go hungry. 1840s potato famine wiped out crops west coast. 150 thousand risk of famine.
• High rents - some moved away for seasonal work like harvesting for rent.
• Collapse of Highland economy - Kelp declined after cheap alternatives found. Slump in cattle & wool prices. Gov report 1841 West Highlands now suffered from overpopulation. Forced many to emigrate as unemployment rose.
• Working conditions on lowland farms hard. Little chance of owning land. Long hours, hard labour, poor weather, squalid living conditions in bothies. New machines (mechanised reaper-binder) less labour required.
• Changes in farming - fewer farm hand jobs (mechanised reaper-binders). Farm consolidation meant fewer farms. New farms employed up to 6 men. Displaced farmers & agriculture labourers went to nearest towns for work & accommodation.
• Decline of country based craft industries - railways meant people could travel to towns & purchase goods - leading to fewer jobs (shawl makers in Kinross). Industrialisation undermined traditional crafts. Railways meant cheap factory goods were transported all over, threatening local tailors, shoemakers & blacksmiths.
• Slum conditions. Young farm labourers often lived in bothies in countryside and in towns overcrowding & disease, particularly cholera.
  Job opportunities in coal mines & as railway navvies (railway mania 40s) & textile mills. Wages often higher, miners earned what was considered good wages.
• ‘Big city’ employment - easier working life - factory work set hours & higher wages. Women working domestic services often had better conditions than being a “kitchen deem” on a farm. Shop work offered a half day holiday.
• City attractions, many young Scots attracted by the music halls and football matches, better social life.
• Demand for Scottish skills - better opportunities in England professions. Well known for farming expertise. By 30s, 22% farmers Essex were Scots. Medical schools in Liverpool, Manchester & Birmingham founded by Scots. Handloom weavers appreciated in Canada. NZ demand for construction work - Aberdeen granite workers Sydney Harbour Bridge. NZ, Australia & Canadian authorities offered free & assisted passages to those with skills (agriculture workers)
• Emigration agents encourage Scots to emigrate. Gave illustrated talks in village halls.
• Newspapers advertised benefits of emigration.
• Gov schemes to assist emigration e.g. Highland and Island Emigration Society.
  Opportunities to own land, Canada land advertised as free/cheap, very fertile & good climate.
• Friends & family often emigrated beforehand & sent letters encouraging to follow.
• Scottish communities already established (Otago, New Zealand) - people could feel at home with familiar institutions e.g. Presbyterian Church.
  Transport revolution e.g. railways & steamships made immigration easier.