HOW AUSTRALIA BECAME A PENAL SETTLEMENT
* Transportation was introduced as an alternative to capital punishment (death by hanging…) in 1680, during King Charles II’s reign. Transportation could be for 7 years, 14 years or life.
* Many convicts were sent to American colonies to work on plantations. In 1775 this stopped.
* British gaols became overcrowded and old ships (called ‘hulks’) were filled with convicts.
Britain needed to find an answer to these problems.
* Capt James Cook’s 1770 diary suggested New South Wales as a suitable place for settlement.
* Lord Sydney became convinced New South Wales was a suitable penal settlement site. He told Prime Minister William Pitt of this view.
* In 1785, a House of Commons’ select committee decided New South Wales was suitable as a penal colony provided food, water and clothing were sent there. Sir Joseph Banks (who sailed with Cook) supported this view.
* Arthur Phillip, a captain in the Royal Navy, worked his farm when not at sea. His neighbour, George Rose, was Secretary of the Treasury. Rose encouraged Phillip to lead the proposed First Fleet to New South Wales. In 1786, Phillip decided to do so.
* The First Fleet left on 13thMay, 1787. Eleven ships made up the fleet. These were:
a). HMS Sirius (the Flagship which Phillip sailed in).
b). HMS Supply (the Escort ship).
c). The Convict ships – Alexander, Charlotte, Friendship, Lady Penrhyn, Prince of Wales and Scarborough.
d). The Store ships – Borrowdale, Fishburn and Golden Grove.
* 1487 people were on the First Fleet - including Captain Arthur Phillip, 9 administrators; 759 men / women convicts; 211 Royal Marines and their wives / children. Others included Royal Navy officers / crew and Merchant Navy crew. Arthur Phillip became the first Governor of the Colony. His term as governor lasted from 26th January, 1788 to 10th December, 1792.
HOWAUSTRALIA BECAME A PENAL SETTLEMENT
1. What was Transportation? ______
2. Write 2 lengths of time that were given for transportation.
a). ______b). ______
3. Where did many of the convicts work who were sent to America?
______
4. What were ‘hulks’?
______
5. Write 2 people who thought New South Wales would be a suitable settlement site.
a). ______
b). ______
6. What was the name of the group of ships that transported the first convicts to N.S.W.?
______
7. Who encouraged Phillip to lead the Fleet to New South Wales?
______
8. Complete these First Fleet facts:
a).Number of ships in the Fleet: ______
b).Number of people on the Fleet: ______
c).Number of convicts on the Fleet: ______
d).Flagship’s name: ______
9. Complete these First Fleet questions:
a).Number of Store ships in the First Fleet: ______
b). Number of convict ships in the First Fleet: ______
c). What was an Escort ship? ______
d). Date that the First Fleet left England: ______
10. What impact do you think that making a person ‘a convict’ would have had on his / her life?
______
______
______
CAN YOU: Show a timeline of events that led to the establishment of the penal settlement in New South Wales?
Information Report
THE CONVICT PROBLEM
WHERE THE CONVICTS CAME FROM:
England (About 60%)
Ireland (About 34%)
Scotland (About 5%)
Wales and other countries (About 1%)
LENGTHS OF CONVICT SENTENCES:
Life (About 25%)
7 years (About 50%)
14 years (About 25%)
THE CONVICT PROBLEM
1. What country did most convicts come from? ______
2. About what percentage of convicts came from England? ______
3. About what percentage of convicts came from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales?
______
4. About what percentage of convicts were given a 7 year sentence? ______
5. About what percentage of convicts were given life sentences? ______
6. What 2 sentence lengths had the same percentage of convicted people?
______
7. What type of crimes do you think were committed to receive a 7 year sentence?
______
8. What type of crimes do you think were committed to receive a life sentence?
______
9. What does the word convict mean? (Use a dictionary if you need to.)
______
10. Draw a map of The British Isles showing England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland and the capital cities of each country. Use an atlas to help you.
FOR FAST FINISHERS: List ways people from different countries in The British Isles have influenced life in Australia.
Recount