Crofters’ War

The "Crofters' War" was a period of civil unrest in the Scottish Highlands during the 1880s. It stemmed from the crofters' struggle for land rights and fair treatment from their landlords. Following the decline of industries like kelp farming and the devastating potato famine, crofters faced increasing pressure as landowners converted land to more profitable deer forests. This led to widespread land shortages and grievances within the crofting communities.

The agitation for reform, which included parliamentary action and sporadic violence, culminated in the Crofters' War. This period of unrest secured the Crofters Holdings Act of 1886, which provided crofters with security of tenure and established a commission to fix fair rents. This act was a significant step in addressing the crofters' demands, though it did not immediately increase the amount of land available to them.12