Tayside Meal Mobs
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The riots were sparked from a series of events fuelled by the "spirit of overtrading" from the 1760s culminating in the collapse of Douglas, Heron & Company in 1772 and other small banks, whose activities led to the bankruptcy and/or ruin of multiple Scottish landlords which in turn led to widespread poverty amongst the population.[1]: 26–31 The collapse of the Scottish linen industry from 1769 to 1772 chiefly affected Perthshire, Fife and Angus. A 30% drop in production caused a wave of unemployment and ensuing poverty.[2]
The drop in price of linen, 25% reduced between 1769 and 1772, further compounded the problems.[3][page needed]