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The British Empire sent convicts to many countries, especially to their colonies, where the cheap labour convicts offered could be employed. While convicts were sent to Singapore, South Africa and India, the largest numbers were sent to America and after the American revolution Australia (similar quantities over a smilar period).
Those Australians who can trace their ancestors back to those who were transported to a life in an undveloped new country several months travel away are generally proud of their history. They are proud that their ancestors overcame the harsh conditions in an unbroken country where they had been sent for crimes largely linked to poverty or their political beliefs. While the records of Britsh convicts having been sold off as indentured servants in the colonies of the American North West exist in detail in the Library of Congress, and elsewhere, the American public are not generally aware of this ancestry.
However, the history of transportation of convicts to both America and Australia is included on the curriculum of all Australian schools.
Interestingly American transportess were more likely to survive the sea journey than Australians because, in the American case, they had been on sold to the ships captain who could only recover the cost of his effort through selling them on as indentured servants. The contractors who carried convicts to Australia were in the employ of the British government ad were paid per journey.
One theory as to why Americans are not aware of their convict ancestry is that those convicts that survived the harsh conditions laboring in places such as he Virginian plantations were easily able to change their names and their history before they melted into the wider exisiting community at a new location as America received free settlers at the same time as the convicts arrived. The fact thay they were easier to identify made the slaves of African origin more attractive than these earlier British convict that had been sold into slavery.
Another reason America's convict history seems to be lost is that it is hidden amongst its slave trading history. The first slaves (or indentured servants as they are often misledingly termed) were British children aboard the Mayflower - one only four years of age.
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What type of colony was Australia before the gold rush era?
Australia was originally a penal colony.
What was Australia first used as?
Australia was first used as a penal colony by the British.It depends upon the context. The first European use of Australia was as a penal colony and free settlement by the British.However, apart from the indigenous aboriginal population, Australia was first used as gathering grounds for trepang, or sea-slugs, by the Macassan traders, because trepang was a prized delicacy in China.
What type of colony did Britain establish in Australia?
Australia was originally a penal colony. This means that British convicts were shipped off to Australia to serve their sentences.
What nation first claimed Australia and what did they use it for?
Britain was the first to claim Australia, although the Dutch, Portuguese and French had explored parts of the continent's coast. Australia was first used as a penal colony for England's excess prisoners.
Who settled Australia as a prison colony?
Australia was originally settled as a penal (prison) colony by Great Britain in 1788. The first Governor who established the colony at Sydney was Arthur Phillip. Great Britain in 1788.
The first European settlement in what country was a penal colony?
The first European settlement in Australia was a penal colony.
In 1788 British convicts were sent to a penal colony near present day Sydney becoming some of the first European settlers of which present day nation?
Australia is the present day nation
When the Europeans settled Australia what type of colony was it supposed to be?
The original European settlement of Australia was as a penal colony, an outpost and colony of Great Britain. There were some free settlers as well.
What type of colony was Australia before the gold rush era?
Australia was originally a penal colony.
What was Australia originally established for?
It was established as a penal colony.
Which nation first explored and claimed Georgia?
Trick question. The first nation to explore, claim, and settle what is now the state of Georgia was the Cherokee Nation. The first European nation to land on what is now Georgia was Spain. The first European nation to colonize it was England; it was a penal colony.
Which colony was started as a Penal colony?
Georgia served as the British Penal colony but settlers in the Carolinas were becoming anxious about them being so close and because Georgia had great farm land so the penal colony did not last long before it was moved to Australia, an island penal colony.
What was Australia first used as?
Australia was first used as a penal colony by the British.It depends upon the context. The first European use of Australia was as a penal colony and free settlement by the British.However, apart from the indigenous aboriginal population, Australia was first used as gathering grounds for trepang, or sea-slugs, by the Macassan traders, because trepang was a prized delicacy in China.
What purpose did Australia serve Great Britain?
it was a penal colony
What type of colony did Britain establish in Australia?
Australia was originally a penal colony. This means that British convicts were shipped off to Australia to serve their sentences.
How was new South Wales Australia formed?
penal colony of UK
Did British originally established Australia to be agricultural?
No, it was established as a penal colony.
