NQ Scottish History

Snapshot: Emigration and the Land Question

The issues of land reform and emigration were important in Scotland prior to the First World War. The idea of gaining land for fighting was not a new argument and was steadily promoted by Highlanders throughout the war.

Likewise, the pattern of emigration from Scotland was already set before 1914, but significantly increased afterwards.

The Land Question

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  • Historic connection between military service and land.

  • Idea of gaining land in return for military service became increasingly important for land owners and crofters during the First World War.

  • Impact of the huge losses of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders at the battle of Loos on attitudes to the war.

  • Consistent demand for land from Highlanders.

  • Pre-war frustrations, rhetoric of recruiting and fighting in the war renewed demands for land.

  • War created sympathy for land seizure amongst some local and national authorities.

  • War removed the threat of imprisonment for participating in land raids.

  • Need for food production required the co-operation of crofters during the war.

  • Crofters believed that land had been promised in return for military service, eg on Tiree and South Uist.

  • Some tenants refused to return land to the landlords after the war.

  • The Land Settlement (Scotland) Act, 1919 allowed for the compulsory purchase of land.

  • Land settlement improved, although there was still a shortage of decent land in the Highlands and Islands

  • Despite the 1919 Act, the transfer of land was slow.

  • Land raids occurred, especially by ex-servicemen who expected land on their return from the trenches, eg on Lewis, Uist, Skye and Sutherland.

Emigration


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  • 1920s was the first decade to show a net decrease in population: 40,000 more people emigrated than were born.

  • Emigration of Scots was 111% of the natural increase (UK figure was 25%).

  • Scots accounted for 58% of UK emigration in the 1920s.

  • Emigration not offset by immigration.

  • Loss of skilled workers to the USA and Canada.

  • Government ‘happy’ to see the relief of pressure on services.

  • Emigration opposed by left-wing and nationalist politicians; it impeded Scottish progress.

  • Scottish Presbyterian Churches worried about the loss of Scottish racial virility and the immigration of Irish.

Reasons for emigration

  • The USA and the former colonies were initially enthusiastic about receiving more people.

  • Government assistance: the Empire Settlement Act of 1922 encouraged emigration, especially to Canada.

  • Higher wages.

  • Pre-existing family and community ties.

  • Part of the pre-war large-scale population movement.