What were some of the problems on the first fleet?

Answer 1

The primary difficulty was illness. The conditions in which convicts were kept below decks were dark, dank and extremely unhygienic - very conducive to the spread of diseases such as typhoid and dysentery. They were given no exercise, and were only allowed out on top of the deck in the light and air for a very short period of time every few days. Nutrition was minimal, leading also to scurvy. The convicts were treated brutally, with women frequently being abused and raped by the officers, and consequently venereal disease also developed into a problem.

Answer 2

The First Fleet's biggest hardship was the treacherous seas due to bad weather once they left South Africa.

The convicts themselves experienced some hardship. Living conditions for the convicts on the First Fleet were quite harsh. The convicts spent most of their time below decks, with a bucket for water and a bucket for waste, although they were also permitted up on the deck to dispose of waste.

Conditions were very unsanitary, and dysentery and cholera were common, though less common than on subsequent fleets. The convicts shared ship space with rats. They were given quite decent rations but fresh food was scarce, and available only in the days immediately after departing a port. Occasionally they were permitted to walk around the decks for exercise - this was limited due to the high seas. It was not that Arthur Phillip wanted to punish them: on the contrary, he wanted to keep them safe. Thus, they spent most of their time below decks. Women were often used by the marines for their "entertainment". Many of these women willingly traded their services for extra rations.

Answer 3

Problems of the First Fleet included:

• diseases such as dysentery and scurvy
• lack of rations once the ships left the ports and fresh supplies ran low
• seasickness among the convicts, most of whom had never been at sea

Answer 4

The main problem encountered by the members of the First Fleet was lack of rations. Certain foods did not last long in the salt air and humidity, and the crew and passengers (marines, officers and convicts) were reduced to a smaller amount of provisions. Further, the salty sea air caused some foods to perish more quickly.

The unsanitary conditions among the convicts caused problems. Dysentery was rife below decks, and some convicts died as a result.

Once the First Fleet arrived at botany Bay, Captain Arthur Phillip quickly determined that the site was not suitable for a new, self-sustaining colony, so he had to scout for a new site. Botany Bay did not have a suitable sheltered harbour or sufficient fresh water. The soil was poor quality and the timber would not serve their building needs. Phillip headed north, where he found Port Jackson, a better place to establish the first colony in New South Wales.

Answer 5

The biggest issue faced by the convicts on the First Fleet was the fact that they were being sent thousands of miles from the only home they knew. They felt confusion, disorientation, homesickness. The journey was long and difficult, and most of the convicts had never even set foot off England's shores. Many of them experienced seasickness, especially once the fleet crossed the equator and weather turned stormy and the seas turbulent.

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.

The convicts were kept below decks for most of the journey, but permitted above deck on occasion in order to get fresh air and exercise. Rations were not too limited, but sickness was rife, particularly cholera, fever, scurvy and dysentery. The convicts had a busket of fresh water for drinking and washing and a bucket for their waste, and the convicts themselves had to empty the waste.

The food eaten by convicts was fairly ordinary, but sufficient. Scurvy was an issue, because in between ports where fruits and vegetables were purchased at each stop, availability of fresh foods was extremely limited.

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. At the same time, many of these women were quite prepared to offer their "services" for a few extra rations.