Up until America gained independence from Britain in 1783 Convicts were sent to America. After that time England needed a new place for them to go as all the jails were full and crimes as small as cutting down a tree in an orchard resulted in transportation.
Australia was chosen for a number of reasons. Firstly, there was no white 'civilized' population of people who lived there so it was assumed that they could just take over the land! Secondly, England needed a safe port to house their trade ships when dealing with Asia.
Australia was chosen for a number of reasons. Firstly, there was no white 'civilized' population of people who lived there so it was assumed that they could just take over the land! Secondly, England needed a safe port to house their trade ships when dealing with Asia.
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Prisoners were often kept in prison hulks like this one below because the jails in London were full. These ships were usually old Navy or merchant ships that were no longer sea worthy so they let them float in the River Themes and house criminals in them who were waiting transportation to America and Australia.These boats held up to 300 prisoners and on average almost a third of them died on the ships because of disease and poor conditions.
http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/stories/why-were-convicts-transported-australia |
Activity - working with the evidence!
Read through the profiles of four convicts that were transferred to Australia. Answer the investigative questions and then create your own convict.
invent_a_convict.doc | |
File Size: | 156 kb |
File Type: | doc |
The Convict Game
Debates!
Topic 1 - "For many convicts transportation was the best thing that had ever happened to them."
Topic 2 - "Sending English prisoners to Australia was simply too harsh."
Topic 3 - "Australia Day should have a change of date."
Topic 4 - "Extreme punishments stop crime."
Topic 2 - "Sending English prisoners to Australia was simply too harsh."
Topic 3 - "Australia Day should have a change of date."
Topic 4 - "Extreme punishments stop crime."