IMG URL- http://www.australianhistory.org/images/colonisation/convicts-2.jpg
By Lucy Di Maggio
Experiences:
Many people back in 1788 and earlier (this was when the first fleet arrived to Australia) lived off scraps and it was very difficult to make money for yourself. Many people lived on the streets and stole food and resources they desperately needed to survive. Many of these people stole things like fresh bread to eat. A crime as simple as this would get them sent to jail. As years went on the jails became too full and they needed a new place to keep all of the prisoners and convicts. So they decided to move a large amount of these people to Australia. Moving to Australia was defiantly a huge experience back them. There was nothing in Australia besides for the Aboriginals, this meant they had to start over and create houses and places for the convicts to stay.
Relationship with other groups:
Before the convicts arrived in Australia, and when they were living in Australia life wasn’t easy. Especially if you didn’t get along with many of the people you were living with. Many of the convicts did get along with each other; this was because they were friends before they moved to Australia or were forced to get along. When the British settlers and convicts moved to Australia they realised that there were already people living there. They did not get along. The British and the convicts believed that they were not human beings and that they did not deserve to live, and that Australia was their land and not owned by the indigenous. This caused many problems throughout that period of time.
Living and working conditions:
The convicts worked long and hard, day and night. Some as slaves, maids and others built houses and made small villages for the settlers. They worked hard because they were sent to Australia because of their behaviour back in England. The living conditions were very hard and poor when they lived in England; this was because they were in jail for committing crimes and stealing. But it wasn’t any better when they travelled to Australia. The convicts had to live on a boat for months just for travel, then when they arrived they had to start fresh and build new housing and villages for everyone. Their working conditions were also poor because they worked very hard so others could have a place to live.
Where they settled and why:
The convicts travelled from England to Australia because of their past mistakes. The first fleet arrived with convicts in 1788. The English sent over 162,000 convicts to Australia in 806 ships. The first eleven of these ships are today known as the First Fleet and contained the convicts and marines that are now acknowledged as the Founders of Australia. They arrived in Sydney Cove.
What are the roles they played in developing a nation?
When the convicts arrived in Australia, they were slaves and were ordered to start building the nation. This included: building villages for the free settlers, getting food for themselves and for the settlers. Other convicts worked as slaves and helped in households for the richer settlers. They worked as maids, baby sitters and chefs for the households. The convicts played a huge role in developing our nation because they started to build it and create what it is today.
Whether they prospered (succeed) or not, why?
The convicts lived a hard life. They worked long hours and built many things that were useful for the people in that time. They made life easier for everyone else who just settled into Australia. The convicts did succeed in a way; this was because they worked hard and did their job in Australia. This was good because it was what they were assigned to do. But they also didn’t succeed because for the majority of their lives were spent working and working off the years they were meant to spend in jail.
Land rights:
The convicts had no land rights at all. They were not in charge on anything. They were relied on by many others and did many jobs and tasks for others but that’s all. They didn’t own much, just some things that they needed like everyday materials. Once the convicts finished doing their time as slaves and hard workers they were able to be free settlers and built their trust and responsibility, this could lead to ownership of land and land rights.
Wealth:
The convicts did not own anything, which made it harder for them to get the things that they needed to survive. This was one of the main reasons all of the convicts moved to Australia in the first place. Before becoming prisoners most of the convicts lived on the streets and had nothing, so they relied on stealing to get those basic materials needed to survive.
Power:
Many of the convicts had no power and it was very hard to earn that power, trust and responsibility back once they did their time on jail/ finished working as slaves. Some of the slaves did have some power. They were the ones were able to make some small decisions for the house hold they were working for. Some of these small decisions were: deciding what to cook for the family, deciding what the family needs, telling them important information which will benefit them in their job or in everyday life and more.
Influence:
Today, it is a known fact that many people are influenced by the people they are surrounded by the most. People can be influenced by their actions, what they look like, their personalities and more. This hasn’t changed, even since the first fleet. Many of the convicts were the way that they were because of the people they were surrounded by. Most of the convicts were surrounded by poor people who lived on the streets and relied on other people and stealing to get what they want. This influenced them to steal and commit crimes.
Ongoing status:
Today, Australia is very modern and urbanised; it has been establish a lot and has change a lot since the first fleet arrived in Australia. We don’t need convicts to establish it any more. If someone commits a crime they go to jail, they don’t need to do any of the work that the convicts did because it has already been done.
Bibliography-
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/convicts-and-the-british-colonies
Australian Government
Graeme Davison, John Hirst, Stuart MacIntyre (eds), The Oxford Companion to Australian History (Revised Edition), Oxford University Press, 2001.
Last updated: 4 November 2014
http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/convicts-and-the-british-colonies
Australian Government
Graeme Davison, John Hirst, Stuart MacIntyre (eds), The Oxford Companion to Australian History (Revised Edition), Oxford University Press, 2001.
Last updated: 4 November 2014