Photo AI
How much do Sources A and B reveal about differing interpretations of the reasons for internal migration in Scotland? Use the sources and reclaimed knowledge. - Scottish Highers History - Question 13 - 2019
Question 13
How much do Sources A and B reveal about differing interpretations of the reasons for internal migration in Scotland? Use the sources and reclaimed knowledge.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:How much do Sources A and B reveal about differing interpretations of the reasons for internal migration in Scotland? Use the sources and reclaimed knowledge. - Scottish Highers History - Question 13 - 2019
Step 1
Source A: Finlay McKichan, The Highland Clearances (1977)
Answer
Source A highlights the economic conditions of the Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries, indicating that many people were driven away due to the desire for better livelihoods. It emphasizes the lure of urban life in Glasgow as opportunities in traditional Highland industries diminished. This suggests a viewpoint that migration was largely motivated by economic factors as people sought jobs and better living conditions.
Step 2
Source B: T.M. Devine, The Paradox of Scottish Emigration (1992)
Answer
Source B provides a contrasting perspective, explaining how the agricultural system in the Lowlands limited opportunities for permanent work, leading migrants to seek out new employment options. The mention of rural life having its own challenges, such as low pay and arduous working conditions, points to a narrative that internal migration was often a desperate response to social and economic constraints rather than purely aspirational.