flashcards_aboriginal_history
What impact did European diseases have on the Torres Strait Islanders?
European diseases introduced by seamen led to a sharp decline in the Torres Strait Islander population.
What was the main role of the London Missionary Society on the Torres Strait islands?
To convert the Islanders to Christianity and protect them from exploitation by pearlers and trepangers.
How did the London Missionary Society enforce church attendance among the Islanders?
They used punishments like flogging, head shaving, and stocks to enforce church attendance.
Who became governor of the Torres Strait Islanders in 1886, and what did he advocate for?
John Douglas, who supported Islanders’ rights and allowed them to elect representatives.
Describe the early contact Aboriginal communities had with Macassan and Torres Strait Islander fishermen.
Aboriginal communities along Australia’s northern coast traded and interacted with these fishermen for centuries.
Why did Dutch explorers, like those aboard the Duyfken, not colonize Australia in 1606?
They found nothing of trade or conquest value on the large arid land.
Who was the first English person to visit Australia, and what did he suggest?
William Dampier; he recommended further exploration of the New Holland coast.
What was Captain Cook’s purpose when he arrived at Botany Bay in 1770?
To explore the land for agricultural potential and claim it for King George III.
Define ‘terra nullius’ as used by Captain Cook during his claim of Australia.
‘Land belonging to no-one,’ a term Europeans used to justify taking lands without Indigenous consent.
What led to the Myall Creek Massacre in 1838, and what were its outcomes?
The murder of two settlers prompted revenge on a nearby Aboriginal camp, resulting in the brutal killing of 28 people; some perpetrators were tried and hanged.
