The Clearances

[JS Sanders]

It's fascinating how the original question I posed two days ago has evolved into its present condition.

One of cajunscot's sources, Celeste Ray's Highland Heritage: Scottish Americans in the American South is worth noting. I read this a coupla years ago and would strongly suggest the same for anyone with even a passing interest. It's more of a textbook, but not narcoleptic. Though her research was centered on South'ners, there's much overlap to other Scotophiles in the US.

Prof Ray's a professor of anthropology at the University of the South and writes of "the phenomenal growth of the Scottish heritage movement across the US".

She notes that the movement is dominated by "highlandism," a phenomenon she defines as ScotoAmericans, regardless of their ancestral regional origins (Lowland, Highland, Ulster Scots), "claim a Highland Scots identity constructed in the 19th century through romanticism, militarism, & tourism."

Highland Heritage is another eye-opening book much like John Prebble's The Highland Clearances and James Hunter's A Dance Called America. Highly recommended.

A sidenote.... I bought James Hunter's book, Glencoe and the Indians, but haven't made time to read it yet.

Slainte yall,
steve

[macwilkin]

It's fascinating how the original question I posed two days ago has evolved into its present condition.

One of cajunscot's sources, Celeste Ray's Highland Heritage: Scottish Americans in the American South is worth noting. I read this a coupla years ago and would strongly suggest the same for anyone with even a passing interest. It's more of a textbook, but not narcoleptic. Though her research was centered on South'ners, there's much overlap to other Scotophiles in the US.

Prof Ray's a professor of anthropology at the University of the South and writes of "the phenomenal growth of the Scottish heritage movement across the US".

She notes that the movement is dominated by "highlandism," a phenomenon she defines as ScotoAmericans, regardless of their ancestral regional origins (Lowland, Highland, Ulster Scots), "claim a Highland Scots identity constructed in the 19th century through romanticism, militarism, & tourism."

Highland Heritage is another eye-opening book much like John Prebble's The Highland Clearances and James Hunter's A Dance Called America. Highly recommended.

A sidenote.... I bought James Hunter's book, Glencoe and the Indians, but haven't made time to read it yet.

Slainte yall,
steve

Glencoe & the Indians was released on this side of the pond by the Montana State Historical Society as Scottish Highlanders, Indian Peoples (Warning! Here be spoliers!):

http://mhs.mt.gov/pub/press/scothigh.asp

Ray's book is an eye-opener, INMHO. Once you read it, you will never look at a highland games the same way again. I saw some very striking parallels to Civil War reenacting when I read it.

Regards,

Todd

[sharpdressedscot]

Once you read it, you will never look at a highland games the same way again.

In a good way or bad??

[macwilkin]

In a good way or bad??

Hmm...tough question to answer. I wouldn't say it's necessarily bad, but it might make you take a good look at some of the things you see at the games.

T.

[JS Sanders]

<< In a good way or bad?? >>

In a positive fashion. You'll still enjoy the Games but with greater appreciation - and perhaps amusement.


<< Glencoe & the Indians was released on this side of the pond by the Montana State Historical Society as Scottish Highlanders, Indian Peoples >>

Cajunscot - I was unaware of that. It'd explain why I had such difficulty locating a copy in the US. Mine was purchased at a gift shop on Skye.

Slainte yall,
steve

[macwilkin]

<< In a good way or bad?? >>

In a positive fashion. You'll still enjoy the Games but with greater appreciation - and perhaps amusement.


<< Glencoe & the Indians was released on this side of the pond by the Montana State Historical Society as Scottish Highlanders, Indian Peoples >>

Cajunscot - I was unaware of that. It'd explain why I had such difficulty locating a copy in the US. Mine was purchased at a gift shop on Skye.

Slainte yall,
steve

I would agree with Steve's statement: overall, Ms. Ray is very positive towards the Scottish-American community. Her research will give you some very interesting insight -- and I would highly recommend her book to our UK brethren who sometimes cock eyebrows at American Scots.

If you like Glencoe & the Indians, you would love Szasz's Scots in the North American West.

T.

[gilmore]

The blurb for "Highland Heritage: Scottish Americans in the American South" makes it look like an interesting read. Southerners have always identified with and touted our Scots heritage, real and imagined.

As Florence King, the Southern humorist, says, "When Southerners ask 'Who are they?' they mean 'Who were they?'"

I remember Faulkner describing the ancestor of one of his characters as grabbing his claymore and plaid after Culloden and fleeing to America.

There are those who blame the US Civil War in part on the novels of Sir Walter Scott, which popularized the notions of idealized chivalry, devotion to one's "land" (whatever that means), and lost causes, etc, that ante bellum Southerners had taken to heart.

[macwilkin]

The blurb for "Highland Heritage: Scottish Americans in the American South" makes it look like an interesting read. Southerners have always identified with and touted our Scots heritage, real and imagined.

As Florence King, the Southern humorist, says, "When Southerners ask 'Who are they?' they mean 'Who were they?'"

I remember Faulkner describing the ancestor of one of his characters as grabbing his claymore and plaid after Culloden and fleeing to America.

There are those who blame the US Civil War in part on the novels of Sir Walter Scott, which popularized the notions of idealized chivalry, devotion to one's "land" (whatever that means), and lost causes, etc, that ante bellum Southerners had taken to heart.

She has a whole chapter on this very subject, Gil.

T.

[Bellfree]

How does this tie into the Scots? Well, most Highlanders who immigrated also remained loyal to the crown, for various reasons. The very people you would expect to rebel -- didn't.

Regards,

Todd

Pages 150 to 154 of Meyer's book, The Highland Scots of North Carolina 1732- 1776, describes 3 reasons, at least for North Carolina Scots: 1. some Highlanders (Campbells) had it as it as "part of their tradition to defend the HOuse of Hanover." 2. "The fear of reprisal was probably a second factor....No group of people in the empire was any better acquainted with the painful aftermath of an unsuccessful revolution than the Highlanders....Even though Highlanders who were too young to remember the Forty-five had heard many stories of the brutalities, atrocities and destruction inflicted by the British Army under the Duke of Cumberland." 3. [The NC governor's policy of land grants] " must have been a third factor in influencing some of the Highlanders....the pressure of population and the changes in the agricultural system of the Highlands forced many people from the land. Thus the Highlanders land hunger is understandable."

Loyalties are often divided. I had ancestors who fought on both sides during the Revolution and the Civil War. And similar conflicts of interest can cause history to be interpreted different ways.

I guess history is like memory: selective and not altogether rooted in the facts.

[sharpdressedscot]

I like where this thread is going!