How did England take control of Australia in 1770?

Answer 1

In 1770, Captain James Cook claimed the eastern coast of Australia for Great Britain during his voyage aboard the HMS Endeavour. He charted the coastline and declared the land, which he named New South Wales, as British territory, despite the presence of Indigenous peoples. This claim was made under the legal principle of "terra nullius," which suggested the land was uninhabited, disregarding the existing Indigenous populations. Cook's claim laid the groundwork for subsequent British colonization, which began in earnest with the First Fleet's arrival in 1788.