The Development of the First British Penal Colony as a Settlement: Flashcards
When did The First Fleet arrive at Botany Bay and how many people were they with?
1788 and with around 1400 people.
Why did the government choose Botany Bay?
- Cook said it was fertile and was empty (he viewed aboriginals as having no right to the land.)
- It was ideal for growing flax to make sails.
Why did the British need Australia as a penal colony?
- Felons couldn’t be sent to America and there was a prison crisis in Britain (this was the primary reason.) It was much easier to transport than to reform the prison system.
- They would deny French territorial claim to the land.
What was the cost of Fitting out the fleet?
£84000.
How many of the 1400 settlers were convicts? What severity of crimes had they committed?
Around 700. Most were for minor theft and some prostitutes. There were no serious crimes as crimes like murder were capital and only a small amount were transported for political activity.
Who were the other 600 non-convict settlers?
Mostly marines and their families. The marines caused issues as they didn’t want to do anything other than military duties (which there were basically none of in Australia).
What powers did the Governors have other settlers?
They had complete military control and absolute power. Because London was so far, communications were rare and they had autonomy.
Describe Phillips and Bligh as governors:
Phillips - responsible for the survival of the colony. Disciplinarian but fair. Gave land grants to convicts. Fair to aboriginal people.
Bligh - very flawed. He was removed by the NSW corps and London barely punished them, suggesting they recognised his flaws.
Describe Brisbane and Arthur as governors:
Brisbane - less paternalistic than Macquarie from before him and limited pardons and land grants. During his reign, a wealthy class of farmers emerged.
Arthur - Devised punishment/reward system for convicts. Had high control and essentially ran a police state. Ran Van Diemen’s Land.
Why was the choice of Botany Bay questionable?
Lacked fresh water and cultivatable soil (the settlement soon resettled to Port Jackson and Sydney Cove.)
Problems upon moving to Sydney Cove?
6 months later - all livestock gone, no plough and no crops. Lack of building materials. They even resorted to trade with aboriginal people. The people they had were not experienced farmers or labourers.
How did Phillips allocate Land?
Based on how skilled the people were. He gave land to marines and serving officers also.
Why did a real economy not develop under Phillips?
The convicts were unskilled so they mostly survived off of the supplies they brought with them rather than trading with each other.
How many land grants and acres of land under cultivation by 1792?
66 land grants (53 to ex-convicts) and 1500 under public or private cultivation.
Give 4 reasons how Governor Phillip ensured the survival of the colony:
- Preparation for journey was painstaking and ran contrary to his instructions to sail in 1786.
- Established a second colony at Norfolk island: sent around 300 there and the island had mutton bird (which were hunted until they disappeared). Only 1 convict died here.
- Equal share of rations (resented by marines). Also ensured a lack of riots as it was equal.
- Move to Rose Hill after SC as it was more fertile. This meant less convicts were living of gov. supplies e.g. James Ruse had 30 acres for wheat growing.
