The theme of this thesis is popular direct action in the form of crowd activity in late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century Scotland. The disturbances considered are those in which at least one of those involved was charged with 'mobbing and rioting'. A wide variety of disturbances are considered. The 'meal mob' was the most common type of disturbance in our period and different forms of action used in the course of food riots are discussed including the seizure of meal, price fixing and attacks on meal sellers and grain dealers. In the autumn of 1797 there were widespread disturbances in opposition to the Scottish Militia Act of that year. The Act, and the government's reasons for introducing it, the popular reaction and the reasons for that reaction are considered. Some disturbances and less violent demonstrations were connected with politics, particularly with the new democratic ideas of the late eighteenth century. Two major attempts at resistance to the Highland Clearances, in 1792 and 1813, are recounted as are three examples of popular resistance to the settlement of unpopular parish ministers. Popular disturbances in an industrial context are considered as are attempts to rescue military prisoners and direct action against military recruitment. Disturbances against the erection of toll-bars and several other types of disturbance are also considered. The overall composition of all the crowds, the role of women in disturbances, the significance of handbills in inciting riots, the leadership and organisation of popular direct action and the modes of collective action are all discussed in a concluding chapter.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:654008 |
| Date | January 1977 |
| Creators | Logue, K. J. |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/17353 |
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