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No. The primary reason for settling America was not to house convicts, however as many as 160,000 (and these figures vary depending on the reference quoted) were sent - a similar period and number to those sent to Australia but in the immediately preceding period (approx 1610 to 1776)
Many of the British were struggling at that time. Many of the crimes were committed by the economic poor - committing crimes to feed themselves and their families. The nature of the crimes committed were not dissimilar to those who fall onto economic hardship today through drug abuse, etc being those petty crimes that would provide an immediate, if comparatively small, return. The crimes not surprisingly included sex offences and theft.
For a serious crime the penalty was execution by hanging and this penalty could be applied for a theft as low level as the theft of goods worth a days pay (today perhaps an iPod or DVD player). "Benefit of Clergy" was given to educated men (often in those times men of the cloth) and these men were sentenced to transportation for seven or fourteen years, often to the Virginian Plantations (where many would be bought and sold and die as slaves).
Convicts sent to Australia settled once they received their 'ticket of leave' and enjoyed a better life, taking up all positions in the small community but few of the American convicts survived their internment - at least few survived and also retained their name and their history, the survivors appear to be those who absconded.
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Who was the legendary welshman who settled in America?
Madoc
How many frence settled in America?
IT WAS MORE THEN 70 SETTLERS
Settled in the far northern areas of North America?
eskimos
What types of people settled in America?
many people settled in america, but most of them were french, english, and Spanish & there slaves.
Which continent did the native Americans settle in?
There are only two continents in the Western Hemisphere. These are, North America and South America. Those are the continents which the first Americans settled in. There is also Central America, which is a smaller land bridge between North America and South America; people settled there, too.
Were there Convicts in the US?
Convicts were indeed sent to North America. Following the American War of Independence, North America was no longer a viable place for Britain to send convicts. this was one of the factors which led to New South Wales being settled as a penal colony.
Which continent were platypuses native to that was settled by British criminals?
Platypuses are native to Australia. Australia was originally settled by convicts, marines and officers from England.
Who are the famous convicts in America?
ned kelly
Who were the people who settled in the British isles?
the first british settlers in australia were exiled convicts
Who had white settlement first the USA or Australia?
North America had white settlers long before Australia did. One of the reasons Australia was settled was because the Americans refused to accept any more convicts from England.
Where were convicts sent before 1775?
Prior to 1775, convicts were sent to parts of North America and the West Indies.
Was sending convicts to Colonial America a good idea or not?
it was not
Where are convicts from what lake?
Convicts come from lakes and streams in Central America. They have a high population concentration in Lake Xiloa in Nicaragua.
Which state in Australia was first settled by English settlers?
All of the states in Australia are first settled by English settlers in one form or another - either as convicts, military or free settlers. New South Wales was the first state to be settled.
Where did Britain transport its convicts before 1775?
Before 1775, Great Britain sent its convicts to parts of North America and the West Indies.
When did the first convicts arrive in America?
After Columbus day in November of '1754.
The French settled America mostly in the area of the River?
The French settled America mostly in the area of the Mississippi River.
