answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The convicts were treated better on the First Fleet's ships than on the second and third fleets. Captain Arthur Phillip was fair and just, and he had a genuine desire to reform the convicts. Although he was compelled to treat the convicts as the prisoners they were, he tried (with very limited resources) to keep them as healthy as possible.

Thanks to Captain Arthur Phillip, the convicts on the First Fleet were treated surprisingly well. Phillip was, in fact, harsher in his discipline with the marines and sailors than he was with the convicts. He was concerned at all times for their health, trying to give them sufficient rations of food and water, and allowing them above decks for some exercise and fresh air as often as was possible. He avoided them coming above decks when the ships hit the rainstorms and wild weather once they crossed the equator, because he knew they had no linens or blankets to dry themselves, and he wanted to limit illness among the convicts.

Rations were not too limited, but sickness was rife, particularly cholera, fever, scurvy and dysentery. The convicts had a bucket of fresh water for drinking and washing and a bucket for their waste, and the convicts themselves had to empty the waste.

Convicts were not punished unnecessarily, but only if they did something that threatened the other passengers or the marines. Unfortunately, Phillip (who had quite high morals) could not be on all the ships at the same time, and the marines had a tendency to use the convict women for their own purposes. The women were subject to be used promiscuously by the sailors, but in many cases they were quite willing to sell themselves for a bit of extra food.

However, the Second Fleet was not under British authority: it was contracted out to a private company, one which was involved in the transportation of slaves to America. Many convicts died on the Second Fleet due to illness, malnourishment and mistreatment. The convicts who lived arrived in an appalling condition, unfit for any work. It was not until the government resumed direct authority for transportation that convicts were treated better.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How were convicts treated on ships?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about General History

How many male convicts were on HMS Sirus?

Sirius was a warship. The convicts were in six cargo ships.


How many convicts were on the Alexander?

The Alexander was one of the ships of the First Fleet. It carried 195 male convicts.


How did convicts survive?

The convicts were treated quite well on the First Fleet's ships. Captain Arthur Phillip was fair and just, and he had a genuine desire to reform the convicts. Although he was compelled to treat the convicts as the prisoners they were, he tried (with very limited resources) to keep them as healthy as possible. Thanks to Captain Arthur Phillip, the convicts on the First Fleet were treated surprisingly well. Phillip was, in fact, harsher in his discipline with the marines and sailors than he was with the convicts. He was concerned at all times for their health, trying to give them sufficient rations of food and water, and allowing them above decks for some exercise and fresh air as often as was possible. He avoided them coming above decks when the ships hit the rainstorms and wild weather once they crossed the equator, because he knew they had no linens or blankets to dry themselves, and he wanted to limit illness among the convicts. Rations were not too limited, but sickness was rife, particularly cholera, fever, scurvy and dysentery. The convicts had a bucket of fresh water for drinking and washing and a bucket for their waste, and the convicts themselves had to empty the waste. Convicts were not punished unnecessarily, but only if they did something that threatened the other passengers or the marines. Unfortunately, Phillip (who had quite high morals) could not be on all the ships at the same time, and the marines had a tendency to use the convict women for their own purposes. The women were subject to be used promiscuously by the sailors, but in many cases they were quite willing to sell themselves for a bit of extra food.


What did the Alexander on the first fleet carry?

The Alexander was one of the transport ships, meaning it carried convicts.


Was Captain Arthur Philip good to the convicts on the First Fleet?

Yes, he was. The convicts were treated better on the First Fleet's ships than on the second and third fleets. Captain Arthur Phillip was fair and just, and he had a genuine desire to reform the convicts. Although he was compelled to treat the convicts as the prisoners they were, he tried (with very limited resources) to keep them as healthy as possible. Thanks to Captain Arthur Phillip, the convicts on the First Fleet were treated surprisingly well. Phillip was, in fact, harsher in his discipline with the marines and sailors than he was with the convicts. He was concerned at all times for their health, trying to give them sufficient rations of food and water, and allowing them above decks for some exercise and fresh air as often as was possible. He avoided them coming above decks when the ships hit the rainstorms and wild weather once they crossed the equator, because he knew they had no linens or blankets to dry themselves, and he wanted to limit illness among the convicts. Rations were not too limited, but sickness was rife, particularly cholera, fever, scurvy and dysentery. The convicts had a bucket of fresh water for drinking and washing and a bucket for their waste, and the convicts themselves had to empty the waste. Convicts were not punished unnecessarily, but only if they did something that threatened the other passengers or the marines. Unfortunately, Phillip (who had quite high morals) could not be on all the ships at the same time, and the marines had a tendency to use the convict women for their own purposes. The women were subject to be used promiscuously by the sailors, but in many cases they were quite willing to sell themselves for a bit of extra food.

Related questions

What did the convicts see when they got of the ships of the first fleet ships?

Aboriangels


How did convicts?

some convicts were treated really badly and others were treated very good, they were not truly free until they gained a free trust. some convicts earned enough trust.


Where do convicts take shower on the ships?

i dont no


What is a ship that housed convicts?

The ships which housed convicts in England during the 1700s were called hulks.


How many male convicts were on HMS Sirus?

Sirius was a warship. The convicts were in six cargo ships.


How were convicts sent to Australia?

The first convicts were sent to Australia on the First Fleet, which consisted of eleven ships. Subsequent convicts were also sent on ships, as that was the only method for transporting any cargo overseas. There were no aeroplanes.


How did the convicts travel to Australia?

There was only one way for convicts to travel to Australia, and that was by way of wooden ships.


How many convicts were on the Alexander?

The Alexander was one of the ships of the First Fleet. It carried 195 male convicts.


What did the girl convicts do when they got to Australia?

don't no you should ask an expert on this stuff try the question what did the convicts do on the ships


How many convict ships were there in Port Arthur?

There were no convict ships stationed there. Convicts were landed and the contracted transport ships departed.


Did the convicts cook on the first fleet?

They helped the ships' cooks.


How did convicts survive?

The convicts were treated quite well on the First Fleet's ships. Captain Arthur Phillip was fair and just, and he had a genuine desire to reform the convicts. Although he was compelled to treat the convicts as the prisoners they were, he tried (with very limited resources) to keep them as healthy as possible. Thanks to Captain Arthur Phillip, the convicts on the First Fleet were treated surprisingly well. Phillip was, in fact, harsher in his discipline with the marines and sailors than he was with the convicts. He was concerned at all times for their health, trying to give them sufficient rations of food and water, and allowing them above decks for some exercise and fresh air as often as was possible. He avoided them coming above decks when the ships hit the rainstorms and wild weather once they crossed the equator, because he knew they had no linens or blankets to dry themselves, and he wanted to limit illness among the convicts. Rations were not too limited, but sickness was rife, particularly cholera, fever, scurvy and dysentery. The convicts had a bucket of fresh water for drinking and washing and a bucket for their waste, and the convicts themselves had to empty the waste. Convicts were not punished unnecessarily, but only if they did something that threatened the other passengers or the marines. Unfortunately, Phillip (who had quite high morals) could not be on all the ships at the same time, and the marines had a tendency to use the convict women for their own purposes. The women were subject to be used promiscuously by the sailors, but in many cases they were quite willing to sell themselves for a bit of extra food.