5 british colonization
TRANSCRIPT
British Colonization
The History of Australia
Australia the Colony
• The colony of Australia began with the establishment of Port Jackson, a settlement in New South Wales on January 26, 1788.
The History of Australia
Founding of Port Jackson
Prison Colonies
• 1787 – British ships called the “First Fleet” left England with convicts to establish a prison colony at Port Jackson – convicts settled in 1788.
Convicts Take Over Australia
• The British experienced overcrowding in their prison system and sought to solve the problem by sentencing their prisoners to “transportation” -- Australia.
• Here they founded a system of labor in which people, whatever their crime, were employed according to their skills.
• From 1810, convicts were seen as a source of labor to
advance and develop the British colony.
• Convict labor was used to develop the public facilities of the colonies - roads, bridges, courthouses, and hospitals. Convicts also worked for free settlers and small land holders.
Port Arthur
• Port Arthur was named after Van Diemen's Land lieutenant governor George Arthur. The settlement started as a timber station in 1830, but it is best known for being a penal colony.
• From 1833, until the 1850s, it was the destination for the hardest of convicted British and Irish criminals, those who were secondary offenders having re-offended after their arrival in Australia. Rebellious personalities from other convict stations were also sent here.
• In addition, Port Arthur had some of the strictest security measures of the British penal system.
The History of Australia
Port Arthur Prison
The History of Australia
Convict-built chapel at Port Arthur Prison
Port Arthur
• Some tales suggest that prisoners committed murder (an offence punishable by death) just to escape the desolation of life at the camp.
• The Island of the Dead was the destination for all who died inside the prison camps.
Aborigines vs. British
• British settlers brought disease and guns to Australia.
• The Aborigines had no immunity against European diseases.
• In the 19th & 20th centuries, conflict worsened.• Surviving Aborigines were forced onto
reservations in the interior.
Australia Grows Up!
• 1851- Gold was discovered in New South Wales and Victoria, attracting a large population.
• Australia’s population quadrupled!!
• Independence became an issue.