The Highland Clearances:

A Webquest

 

 

Introduction:

During a turbulent period in Scottish history, which was later to become known as the Highland Clearances, tens of thousands of men, women and children were evicted, often violently, from their homes to make way for large scale sheep farming. In some areas, whole glens were cleared, which today are as silent as they must have been when the landlord's factors had finished ruthlessly carrying out the orders of their masters. Homes were burnt and tenants forced to leave at the point of a sword or musket, carrying little or nothing as they headed towards a life of poverty and hunger.

 

Task:

In the following Webquest, you will use the power of teamwork and the abundant resources on the Internet to learn all about the ''Highland Clearances''. To begin with each of your group should familiarise themselves with this topic by visiting the sites marked as being General Information before researching more detailed sites.

 
Your group should now produce a six-page report [not including the cover, introduction and conclusions] aimed at raising public awareness over this historical event. Your report should include graphics and statistics and make reference to the websites you have used for information.

 
Resources:

 

Highlands before 1745

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/working/index.htm

Highlands after 1745

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/working/index.htm

General information on the Highland clearances

http://www.macgowan.org/higclear.html

http://members.aol.com/skyewrites/menu9.html

http://www.highlanderweb.co.uk/clearanc.htm

http://www.scottishhistory.com/clearce.htm

http://www.clan.com/history/features/clearances/

http://www.rowan-tree-scotland.co.uk/week/clearances.shtml

http://www.tartans.com/articles/highclearmem1.html

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/hclearances.htm

http://www.his.net/~rory/hlndclr.html

http://www.scotclans.com/clans/1785.htm

http://visitscotland.50megs.com/page224.html

http://www.scottishweb.net/features/clearances/clearancemain.htm

Dr Samuel Johnstone’ visit to Scotland

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/journey/index.htm

Detailed affects of the clearances:

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/sclearstrath.htm

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/glencalvie.htm

http://www.thehendrys.freeserve.co.uk/scothist.htm

http://www.scottishweb.net/features/clearances/rossalmain.htm

A balanced view of the clearances:

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/hcbalance.htm