The historical context of convict transportation to Australia reveals Britain's use of the practice to alleviate its overwhelmed criminal justice system in the 18th and 19th centuries. Approximately 162,000 convicts were sent to Australian penal colonies, initially to relieve overcrowded prisons and later to support empire expansion. The First Fleet in 1788 marked the beginning of this era, which ended in 1868 due to changing attitudes and the rise of the free settler community.
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The "bloody code" mandated the death penalty for numerous offenses, including petty theft
Moral and Practical Issues
The excessive use of the death penalty raised concerns about morality and practicality in the criminal justice system
To address the issues with excessive capital sentences, Britain adopted the policy of transportation, sending convicts to distant colonies to serve their sentences
Transportation aimed to offer a chance for redemption for convicts while also supporting the expansion of the British Empire by establishing a presence in new territories
Development of Modern Penal Institutions
The development of modern prisons, such as Pentonville Prison, led to a decline in transportation as a penal method
Official Abolition in the 1860s
Transportation was officially abolished in the 1860s due to changing attitudes and the emergence of more effective penal methods
Convicts were predominantly male and convicted for offenses such as theft, but also included political dissidents and women
The First Fleet in 1788 marked the beginning of convict transportation to Australia, with roughly 1,000 individuals, including a significant number of convicts
Overcrowded and Unsanitary Prison Hulks
Convicts awaiting transportation endured dire conditions on overcrowded and unsanitary prison hulks
Official Start of Sentences Upon Arrival in Australia
Convicts' sentences officially began upon arrival in Australia, meaning time spent on prison hulks or in transit did not count towards their punishment
Work Assignments and Conditions
Convicts who demonstrated good behavior could earn more favorable work assignments, while others endured harsh conditions in chain gangs or through corporal punishment
Settlement in Australia
Despite the severity of their sentences, many convicts ultimately chose to settle in Australia post-sentence due to the high cost of returning to Britain
00
In the ______ and ______ centuries, Britain faced a legal system crisis known as the '______ code', which prescribed the death penalty for many crimes.
18th
19th
bloody
01
Britain began transporting convicts to ______ as an alternative to the American colonies post-______ Revolution.
Australia
American
02
Purpose of transportation in British Empire expansion
Established British presence in new territories, aiding empire expansion.
