Scottish Society 1789-1918: Breaking down the Highland Clearances Essay

Structure Task: Work together to produce each ‘piece’ of the essay – this will help you to see how the essay might
look when it’s ‘fleshed out’.

Group A: Introduction: 250 words explaining what the clearances were and how this essay will tackle the question.

Group B: The aftermath of the ’45 Jacobite Rebellion, the demise of the clan system and the growth of capitalistic
landlordism also (include a reference to Source A)

Group C: Agricultural improvement, the introduction of sheep farming, sporting estates and higher rents.

Group D: Voluntary and supported emigration and migration to industrial towns.

Group E: Poverty in the Highlands including the potato famine, ‘overpopulation’ and the failure of kelp (also include
a reference to Source B)

Group F: Explain the views of historians who stress the human cost of the clearances and blame the landlords – their
arguments and your evaluation (for example Prebble and McKenzie)

Group G: Explain the views of historians who have doubts about the forced nature of the clearances - their
arguments and your evaluation (also include a reference to Source D)

Group H: Explain the views of historians who point to wider economic and social reasons, their arguments and your
evaluation (Devine – include also a reference to Source C)

Conclusion: Recap the main points and answer the question.

Presentation: In the actual assessment you MUST support your arguments with in-text references and a full
Bibliography. The Bibliography will be your last page and everything you have read/watched and referred to will be
listed in alphabetical order by the author’s surname. You must present your essay in double or 1 ½ line spacing and
add a note of your final word count at the end – e.g., Word count: 2020. You must upload your essay to ilearn by the
submission date. Failure to do this will be regarded as a failed first attempt.