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.
When did the 2nd fleet arrive?
Lady Juliana arrived in 1790 - 2 years after initial settlement. Supply ship Justinian arrived 2 weeks after. 1/4 of convicts in the 2nd fleet died.
What was the significance of the 2nd Fleet?
Brought supplies to ensure colonies survival and Phillips sent one of the ships to buy rice from Calcutta.
When did Phillips leave the settlement? What did the population grow to under his leadership?
- The population had grown to 3000.
What significance did the Irish Settlers have?
Seen as more dangerous due to their political activities and religious prejudice (they were catholic). They attempted rebellion in 1804 and failed.
Which 2 developments happened under Macquarie that helped the colony’s economy?
- Gov. sent official silver coins so the colony now had an official currency.
- End of Napoleonic wars saw an increase in prisoners due to poor standard of living in Britain. MQ could use these to enact his public works schemes.
What was the first initial change MQ made to the colony?
Removed NSW corps who had rebelled against Bligh. This was because the governor had effectively unlimited power.
What control did the NSW corps exercise?
Assigned several convicts to farm labour to their farms and also controlled import of alcohol. They also issues the currency of the time so effectively controlled the economy. (Afterwards rum became the currency before 1812)
What was a major source of tension in MQ colony?
He tended to side with convicts (emancipists) over exclusives (free settlers / NSW corps)
Who came with MQ to the colony?
The 73rd regiment - this was to dismantle the NSW corps and ensure his own control.
How did MQ treat convicts?
-He had a paternalistic style towards them.
-He would personally greet each new convict ship and even invited some to his mansion.
-He would also emphasise the punishment and reward system and convict rights.
-Punishments were only dealt after a hearing by the local magistrate.
-Reoffenders were sent to Van Diemen’s Land.
Was MQs style towards convicts successful?
Yes - most convicts stayed in Australia after their sentence was due and enjoyed the rewards system. It was very ideal to Georgian society back in Britain.
How did MQ (an Anglican) enact religious change?
-No cohabitation without Benefit of the Clergy. –> marriage more common and women had better economic status as widows could control their husbands assets e.g. Mary Haydock who controlled a shipping and trading business from 1811. This was an improvement over early attitudes to women but these women were largely exceptions.
-He also restricted the sale of Alcohol and closed pubs during religious ceremonies.
How did the role of convicts change?
Overtime they were assigned to private masters for wool industry and they became less important when wool industry was the main source of income.
What was life like for a convict?
Worked 9 hours a day for 5 days and sold extra labour to employers for extra wages. Punishments were extremely harsh. Minor transgressions were 100 lashes. However, there were hearings before a magistrate and they had rights to shelter and food.
What was life like for women in the settlements?
-Outnumbered by men 6 to 1.
-Most were raped upon arrival unless protected by marines.
-Their best chance of protection was by becoming a domestic servant to an officer. Some women were given back to the Government Store pregnant, whereas some prospered in their cohabitation with men. e.g. Rev. Marsden ‘female register’ showed around 1500 married or concubine women.
Who were specials?
Convicts with skills e.g. used in public work schemes under MQ. Some were designated to to recording the development of the colony. Some became lawyers e.g. George Crossley.
What was MQ system of convict labour?
Settlers (including Emancipists) could apply for convict labour.
What was the reaction to the new system of convict labour?
Committee into Transpiration of Convicts in 1812 found that it was a well devised system although too many tickets of leave were issued and opposed pardons being granted. These complaints were upheld in the Bigge report.
Describe the land grants under MQ that were given to convicts:
Given at Rose Hill and Paramatta and then in Hawkesbury near Sydney as it was easier to transport goods this way as it was near water and the land was fertile. 5 towns established in Hawkesbury region between 1810 and 1811.
What were the positives of the Hawkesbury land grants?
Essential to feed the growing population of Sydney and received strong support from MQ. Trade and transportation was easier due to the river.
Negatives of these land grants?
-They came into conflict with local natives and were killed through bloody guerrilla conflict. 1816 - MQ allowed punitive expeditions to Aborigines.
-The exclusives were critical of MQ land grants to convicts and wanted to see land grants go themselves which was one of the reasons MQ fell from power.
How was money raised by the colony spent under MQ?
It was reinvested back into the settlements whereas it was typically sent back to London.
What did MQ towns include? What were the benefits of these?
A church, an inn and a school. Some e.g. Sydney had a hospital. Besides obvious social benefits, the work schemes provided jobs and helped through economic depression and plague. The road built across the Blue mountains also boosted wool industry.
