Some Background to the Scottish Exodus

It is said that Scotland's greatest export is her people but it should be said that her greatest loss was her people along with the ability to maintain them at home. Scotland retained her own government for a century following the 'Union of the Crowns' in 1603. During the earlier part of this period religion proved the divisive issue. Catholic against Protestant, throughout the British Isles and without regard for Nationality co-religionists fought alongside each other. It was perhaps this period more than anything else that damaged Scotland's future prospects. Later her trade with the continent was destroyed by the Crown's European wars, which in 1699 led the Nation of Scotland to attempt its first and only independent colony. Popular enthusiasm committed too much of the Country's free wealth to an unhealthy settlement on the Darien peninsula in Panama. Hostile Spanish attention, the climate and England's overt abuse of its power inflicted suffering on the Scottish adventure and brought about a failure that was followed at home by a National financial disaster. Scotland thus weakened; England pushed its case for a 'Treaty of Union' through the use of bribery and sanction. That is to say, the Alien Act; A law prohibiting Scots from free access to England and its commercial markets, and the promise of large sums in compensation to individuals upon ratification of the treaty. Opposed by over eighty percent of Scotland's population, the 'Treaty of Union' was approved by a narrow margin in a Parliament which then voted itself out of existence.

That the unequal "partnership" of Great Britain has been in England's favor is unquestionable. From Union came an Empire, to avoid cost empire building requires recruiting subdued populations into the pursuit of further gain. Despite great sacrifice Scotland never experienced any real benefit during Imperial times aside from acquiring its reputation for glory in war. The creation of Britain in 1707 serves as a starting date for the centuries of outward migration that followed. Voluntary emigrants were most often the desperate poor, a class of people that Scotland was never short of. It was however forced emigration that left the darker stain; Europe's history has few chapters that rival the Highland Clearances for prolonged barbarity. It matters little today who the landlords were, that they were permitted to behave with such cruelty remains an indictment against the Government of Great Britain and its policies toward Scotland. The clearances were facilitated through the application of the 'laws of feudal tenure', these date from medieval times and remained intact in Scotland (which has its own legal system) until the 1990's when the 'new' Scottish Parliament began playing with them.

The Emigrants
Before the 'age of steam' travel to the new world averaged around six weeks at sea but storms and unfavorable winds could cause long delays. With hundreds of passengers packed into the holds of small sailing vessels sickness and death were not uncommon especially amongst the elderly and the young. From the east coast to the prairies trees confronted the new arrivals to North America. Much of the land was boggy or too poor to farm and the climate more extreme than anything they had known with hotter summers and long very cold winters. It took several years of clearing land for a family to build a house and establish itself providing the property proved productive. Insects were in abundance and the danger from bears and wolves ever present, especially for the livestock.

In the new world the Scots built communities, won wars and shaped Nations but all of that would be small comfort for the first shivering arrivals to 'An Talamh Fheur' (The Cold Land) as the country became known to the Highland settlers.