The convicts of the First Fleet had to contend with all the problems of establishing a settlement in a foreign and hostile land.
British farming methods, seeds and implements were unsuitable for use in the different climate and soil, so farms were very slow to be established. Much of the seed had rotted or been eaten by rats on the journey over, or the seeds were just unsuitable for the tough Australian soil. The implements and tools could not stand up to the tougher treatment and conditions of the Australian soil and climate. The colony faced near-starvation in its first two years, and was finally saved by the success of a barley crop. lems for the british gaols.
There was also a great deal of miscommunication with the local indigenous people. Aborigines had no concept of "ownership" as they were a generous people who were willing to share, so they saw nothing wrong with killing the settlement's livestock to use for their own food. The Europeans retaliated, often carrying out revenge killings. This only increased the hostility between the races.
Aboriangels
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.
The Alexander was one of the ships of the First Fleet. It carried 195 male convicts.
They helped the ships' cooks.
The convicts were transported via ships from England to Australia. The First Fleet was under British authority, but the Second Fleet was contracted out to private contractors. Because of the terrible conditions of the Second Fleet, subsequent fleets we again up under British authority. Once in Australia, they were required to walk everywhere.
Eleven ships came to Australia with the First Fleet of convicts in 1788.
The Alexander was the largest of the convict transport ships, and it carried almost 200 male convicts.
Many ships landed in Australia in the 1700s. Among them were the HMS Bark Endeavour, commanded by James Cook, and the ships of the First, Second and Third Fleets, not to mention ensuing fleets of convict ships. The French also landed numerous ships on Autralia's shores.
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.
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.
A fleet of ships is a flotilla, or armada.
The ships of the First Fleet included:HMS Sirius - the flagshipHMS Supply - armed storeshipThe Alexander - transport and the biggest shipThe Borrowdale - storeshipThe Charlotte - transportThe Fishburn - storeshipThe Friendship - transportGolden Grove - storeshipLady Penrhyn - transportPrince of Wales - transportScarborough - transport