I think perhaps the richest and most powerful of the "SCOTTISH landowners" (some of which were previously English who had been awarded the estates for political rewards) were, as we have seen all through history in all countries, greedy and ruthless and wanting more money and power, so they did what came natural to them. But, instead of stopping them, the English government/crown allowed it and promoted it. The crown was happy to rid the land of the "Highlander clans" to avoid future uprisings. Or am I wrong?
.What 'English government/crown' might that be, then?
There was no English crown as Winnie has pointed out, after 1707, it was a British govt and a British royal family, which btw, sat and sits on the throne because of its SCOTTISH descent.
Most of the landowners were Scottish, from major families, and the reason (and nobody here is denying the Clearances weren’t appalling, what we are discussing is the bad history that surrounds it, thanks mainly due to nationalists) was pure profit. Sheep made more money than people.
Remember it happened long after 1746, the Highlands (of whom only barely half supported the 1745 uprising, more Scots fought AGAINST Bonnie Prince Charlie than for him, both sides of my family, one highland one lowland, and I am very proud they did so) has been at peace for years. lthough it started in 1762, it really didn’t start en masse until 1792 and into the 1800’s. By then, there was no prospect of another rising.
Also, even in Scotland, the equally important and harrowing LOWLAND Clearances have been forgotten. In fact it started first and influenced the later Highland one. Cynics might suggest that we Lowlanders don’t have the victim mentality of the Highlander....