Transportation Flashcards
Reason for transportation: It would provide punishments less harsh than hanging so juries would convict. Was this aim met?
Yes as juries were far more willing to send people to transportation and in 1833 it became the most popular punishment and lots of people are sent there
Reason for transportation: It would reform criminals through hard work. Was this aim met?
No as it didn’t actually reform as many were happy to have better wages and saw it as an opportunity. Their lives were also dictated based on their settlers who were frequently quite lenient
Reason for transportation: It would be harsh enough to terrify criminals and deter them
It was the most severe punishment in the 1800s but many viewed it as a summer’s excursion and the in 1851, the gold rush encouraged people to go to Australia
Reason for transportation: It would help claim the new land of Australia and reduce crime. Was this aim met?
Yes as by the 1830s Australia had become an established part of the British empire and prisoners didn’t return and started a new life there. However, the crime rate in England has not fallen but it had risen sharply
State the timeline of transportation development
1717: Transportation Act which establishes transportation as a common punishment for minor crimes and serious crimes
1776: 13 of the American colonies declare independence and transportation to America comes to an end
1787: Britains first set of convicts arrive in Australia
1833: Peak year for transportation as 36 ships and 6,779 prisoners sent to Australia
What happened to prisoners waiting to be transported?
Held in hulks or gaols until enough were collected for the 8 month voyage
What is a hulk
A hulk is a ship that is afloat, but incapable of going to sea.
Describe the life that transported convicts lived once abroad:
On arrival convicts were assigned to settlers and their sentence became whatever their master gave them and he provided food, clothes and water. Good conduct could bring a ticket of leave which provides a motive to behave.
What happened to transported prisoners who committed further crimes or came to Britain without a ticket of leave?
Further committed crimes would mean they would be flogged or be sent to distant settlements where treatment is harsh. If you came to Britain without a ticket of leave you would be sentenced to death
Transportation began to decline in 1840s and ended in 1868. State the reasons why:
Was seen as an opportunity for convicts as wages were higher
Settlers in Australia were unhappy that convicts were being sent there as it was feared it would lead to increased crime rates
Did not lead to an decrease in crime and cost the government millions, which was much more than planned for the maintenance of transported people
Seen wrongly as a holiday and gaols were cheaper and more popular now
How long did the first trip take to be transported to Australia?
The first one took eight months
