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Life for the convicts on the First Fleet was very difficult. They travelled for eight and a half months far from their home country, mostly being kept below decks. The last couple of months they were on very rough seas, and were hardly allowed up on deck at all, for their own safety.

The convicts were most commonly punished by being placed on reduced rations, meaning they were given less food, or certain privileges such as tobacco, tea or sugar were withdrawn.

The Cat o' nine tails was a particularly vicious type of punishment. This was a whip with nine cords of leather, each of which had a metal triangle embedded in the end. A convict was given between 10 and 50 lashes (in some case more), and within just a few lashes, the flesh would be ripped out, sometimes to the point where the bone was exposed.

Once they arrived in Australia, it was a different matter.

Australia was very strange for the convicts and settlers of the First Fleet. When the first European settlers arrived in Australia, they found a hot, humid country. The bushland was thick and unlike anything they had at home - instead of green, grassy hills and green trees, they found rocky terrain and strange, grey-green trees that smelled strong and sweet. There was an eerieness to the bushland, because it seemed all the same to their inexperienced eyes, and stories of the Aborigines were exaggerated to make the convicts fear stepping outside the camps. Any who did escape quickly became lost, and many convict bones lie scattered in the bush where they became hopelessly lost, and unable to fend for themselves. There were strange hopping animals - the 'kangaroo' - and strange, noisy birds such as the kookaburra and cockatoos.

The heat and humidity made it difficult to motivate the convicts to work, and English tools and implements were unusable in the tough Australian soil. very few of the convicts had any skill in farming, and as a result, in the early years the colony nearly starved. It took some time for Sydney Cove to become self-sufficient, and for the first few years, the colony relied entirely on the supplies of the second and third fleets.

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What countries did convicts come from?

Convicts sent to penal colonies, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries, primarily came from Britain, including England, Scotland, and Wales. Other countries, such as Ireland, also contributed to the convict population, especially during periods of social unrest and famine. Additionally, some convicts were transported from other parts of the British Empire, including Australia, as well as from countries like France and the United States during specific historical contexts.


What was the education like in the Massachusetts Colony?

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Why were convicts whipped?

Convicts were whipped as a form of punishment and deterrence in the criminal justice system, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. This method aimed to inflict physical pain as a means of discipline and to discourage both the individual and others from committing crimes. Whipping was often used for various offenses, perceived as a more humane alternative to harsher penalties like execution. Additionally, it served to reinforce societal norms and maintain order within penal institutions.


What were conditions like on the ships in the first fleet for the convicts and marines?

Thanks to Captain Arthur Phillip, the convicts on the First Fleet were subjected to better conditions than convicts of subsequent fleets. 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 the convicts' 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 knew that they would be invaluable to the building of the new colony. Phillip avoided having the convicts come 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. 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. The marines had fairly close quarters themselves, only they weren't restrained. Their food was the same as that of the convicts but they had more of it. Conditions were best for the officers.


What did convicts steal?

Convicts have stolen a wide range of items, depending on the context and time period. Commonly, they have targeted money, food, tools, and other valuable goods. In historical contexts, such as during the transportation of convicts, items like personal belongings or provisions were often taken. Today, theft by convicts can include anything from electronics to drugs, reflecting both opportunity and desperation.

Related Questions

Was Newfoundland a penal colony?

Newfoundland was not officially designated as a penal colony like some other regions in the British Empire. However, during the 18th and 19th centuries, it did serve as a place where some convicts were sent, particularly for minor offenses, and some were employed in the fishing industry. The province's harsh conditions and isolation resembled aspects of a penal colony, but it was primarily a settlement for fishing and trade rather than a formal penal institution.


What kind of people were the convicts?

The convicts who were sent to Australia were ordinary, everyday people who made the mistake of committing any of a range of crimes, from larceny and fraud to stealing a mere loaf of bread in order to survive. None of the convicts were murderers.


What was life like in the new colony in Georgia?

Probably brutal since it was established as a British Penal and Debtor's Colony where about 50,000 immigrants were settled and auctioned off as indentured servants in the hope that they would never again disgrace the Empire.


What do convicts look like?

convicts look dirty with very little food


What did convicts celebrate in Australia?

Convicts in Australia often celebrated events such as anniversaries of their arrival, religious holidays, and local festivals. Despite their challenging circumstances, these celebrations provided opportunities for socialization and a sense of community among the convicts. They sometimes marked significant milestones like the anniversary of the colony's founding or the granting of pardons. Such occasions allowed them to momentarily escape the harsh realities of their lives.


What countries did convicts come from?

Convicts sent to penal colonies, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries, primarily came from Britain, including England, Scotland, and Wales. Other countries, such as Ireland, also contributed to the convict population, especially during periods of social unrest and famine. Additionally, some convicts were transported from other parts of the British Empire, including Australia, as well as from countries like France and the United States during specific historical contexts.


What was the education in the colony Massachusetts?

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What was the education like in the Massachusetts Colony?

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What does boombastic mean?

Human behaviour that is like an exploding bomb, or about a person whose behaviour is like this.


What is simple behaviour?

simple behaviour is the behaviour of simple people like arnie... he survived nova gas = )


What were conditions like on the first fleet ships?

Captain Arthur Phillip knew the importance of keeping the convicts healthy so that they could help build the new colony in New South Wales, so thanks to him, the convicts on the First Fleet were subjected to better conditions than convicts of subsequent fleets. 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 the convicts' 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 knew that they would be invaluable to the building of the new colony. Phillip avoided having the convicts come 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. 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. The marines had fairly close quarters themselves, only they weren't restrained. Their food was the same as that of the convicts but they had more of it. Conditions were best for the officers.


Why were convicts whipped?

Convicts were whipped as a form of punishment and deterrence in the criminal justice system, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. This method aimed to inflict physical pain as a means of discipline and to discourage both the individual and others from committing crimes. Whipping was often used for various offenses, perceived as a more humane alternative to harsher penalties like execution. Additionally, it served to reinforce societal norms and maintain order within penal institutions.