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Britain "took over" Australia because they did not, at the time, recognise the rights of the indigenous people to the land. Australia was thought to be useful to Britain for a number of reasons:
1. To expand the British empire, and prevent the French from gaining a foothold in the Australian continent or in that part of the Pacific.
2. To solve the problem of Britain's overcrowded prisons (a consequence of the Industrial Revolution) by establishing a new penal colony in a land which showed promise for eventually becoming self-supporting. Britain had been sending their excess prisoners to North America, but the American War of Independence put a stop to the practice. After James Cook's successful voyage which involved charting the eastern coast of Australia, New South Wales was seen as a viable proposition for a convict colony. In particular, it was endorsed by Sir Joseph Banks, the influential botanist who travelled with Cook.
3. Australia could provide commercial and political gains to Britain.
4. Due to war, Britain needed to find an alternative supply of Flax and timber as her Baltic supply was under threat. It was believed that nearby Norfolk Island would provide this.
5. Britain needed a port in the East to promote trade with China and to extend its naval and commercial power.
The first permanent European settlers arrived in Australia at botany Bay with the First Fleet between the 18th and 20th January 1788 to set up the new penal colony, which they did on 26th January 1788 at Port Jackson to the North of Botany Bay. The colony of New South Wales was formally proclaimed by Governor Phillip on 7 February 1788.
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∙ 7y ago
Anonymous
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∙ 14y agoIt could be said that Britain did less settling than sending prisoners to conveniently colonise Australia.
Conditions in England in the 18th century were tough: the industrial revolution had removed many people's opportunities to earn an honest wage as simpler tasks were replaced by machine labour. As unemployment rose, so did crime, especially the theft of basic necessities such as food and clothing. The authorities chose to clamp down heavily on people for minor penalties, hoping to stem the tide of rising crime.
The British prison system was soon full to overflowing, and a new place had to be found to ship the prison inmates. The American colonies were no longer viable, following the American war of Independence. England had resorted to using old ships - hulks - to place the convicts at night, but they were extremely unhealthy and overcrowded.
Following Captain Cook's voyage to the South Pacific in 1770, the previously uncharted continent of New Holland proved to be suitable. Cook had claimed the eastern half of the continent for England, naming it "New South Wales", and determined that a small bay in the south which he named "Botany Bay" would present the ideal conditions for a penal colony.
A colony which established Britain's claim on Australia would also help expand the British Empire and provide a physical presence in the south Pacific. This held both strategic and economic/trade advantages for England. Also, the presence of a colony would enable England to lay claim to Australia during a time when France was rapidly expanding its empire as well.
Transportation to Australia ended in 1852, although convict labour was still used in Australia until 1867. Transportation ended for several reasons. One was a campaign against its cruelty (in Britain and Australia). Another was that the growing population of settlers began to see themselves as 'Australians' and began to resent Britain dumping its poorest and most troubled people in their country. A further reason was that as emigration of free people to Australia grew, there was less need for convict labour.
Free settlers began coming to Australia with the very First Fleet, and in increasing numbers after that. The British empire gave these people opportunities for a new life. On the other hand, many of them felt that British rule at home had failed them and forced them to leave their homes and families.
There were several reasons for the increasing numbers of emigrants from the 1830s onwards. One key factor was hunger and misery in Ireland. Ireland was plagued by overpopulation and poverty, and then by a terrible famine in the 1840s. The government and local officials in Ireland put together a range of schemes to help poor Irish farmers emigrate to America and Australia. A similar scheme operated for the German/Prussian immigrants, and those escaping the religious persecution under King Friedrich Wilhelm III. Throughout the 1840s emigration to Australia was running at about 15,000 per year. Once the goldrushes started, numbers of immigrants from around the world increased dramatically.
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∙ 9y agoGreat Britain decided to take over Australia for several reasons. They needed a new place to keep prisoners since theirs were overcrowded and their former American colonies had recently gained independence. Australia was also of economic benefit since it was a source of timber and flax. It could also be used as an Eastern port to make trade with China easier. The British also wanted to take over Australia before the French could claim it for themselves.
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∙ 12y agoBritish prisons were full to overflowing, old ships ready for the wreckers yard were filled with prisoners and anchored mid stream in the Thames.After the American Revolution America refused to take any more prisoners.One of James Cooks duties on his voyage to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus was to find out if the "Great Southland" really existed ,and if so, accurately map it with a view to a future colony, and somewhere to dump prisoners.within 5/6 years [ 1788 ] they began to arrive in fleets and kept on coming, the colony grew on the backs of these convicts and gave rise to a modern day country of some 21 million who are fiercely proud of their convict/settler beginnings.
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∙ 9y agoThe British took convicts to Australia since they had no room in prisons in England.
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How was the problem of England's overflowing prisoners addressed?
I assume the question relates to the deportation of prisoners from England to our penal colonies being established in Australia (and elsewhere)? The problem was simply to remove the prisoners somewhere else. In 1787, the 'First Fleet' departed from England, to establish the first British penal colony settlement in Australia.
What were the death ships which sailed to Australia?
Before the American Revolutionary War, British prisoners were sold as indentured servants to work on American farms. While an individual could indenture himself for 7 years in exchange for passage across the ocean, a prisoner's indenture could last 30 years. During the Revolutionary War, prisoners made up the bulk of the British army. After that war, England needed a place to send prisoners. Australia was available. Prisoners were sent from jails in England to prisons in Australia. After the prisoners served their sentences, they were released from prison in Australia. They would never return to England. Their relatives in England would never hear from them again. It was as if once they walked on board the boat they went to their deaths. It was possible for a person in England to write to a person in Australia and get an answer. However, it required an address. Without knowing where they were, it was impossible to contact them. They were dead to their relatives back in England.
When did the British capture slaves from Australia?
The very first group of British prisoners, known as convicts, arrived and disembarked in Australia on 26 January 1788. They were part of the First Fleet, the group of eleven ships which carried convicts, marines and some of their wives and children, and officers, departing Portsmoum England in May 1787. British convicts continued to be sent to Australia until the 1860s.
Why did the British decide to settle in Australia after the loss of the American colonies?
They colonized there to put all the prisoners there because of all the un inployment issues and the rise in crime in London
How Many british prisoners died in the war?
1,000
What country were Australia's first settlers from?
The British put their prisoners there.
Why Did The British Decide To Settle In Australia?
The British expanded their colonial possessions to Australia for an important reason. They needed more room for their prisoners.
What was the original purpose in the British colony in Australia?
to create a place to send prisoners
British prisoners were among the first european settlers of which country in the southern hemisphere?
Australia
What type of people were the first British to colonize Australia?
Australia was colonised by British prisoners. The British government sent a fleet of convicts and officers, under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip, to colonise the land that James Cook had named and claimed as "New South Wales".
How the British used austarlia?
Australia was originally set up as a penal colony where Britain sent prisoners.
Which state did the British take 5000 prisoners from in the American revolution?
New York
How was the problem of England's overflowing prisoners addressed?
I assume the question relates to the deportation of prisoners from England to our penal colonies being established in Australia (and elsewhere)? The problem was simply to remove the prisoners somewhere else. In 1787, the 'First Fleet' departed from England, to establish the first British penal colony settlement in Australia.
What was Australia was established as?
Australia was originally established as a penal colony, or convict settlement. The first Europeans to permanently settle in the country were British prisoners, and the officers and marines who led and guarded them.
What were the death ships which sailed to Australia?
Before the American Revolutionary War, British prisoners were sold as indentured servants to work on American farms. While an individual could indenture himself for 7 years in exchange for passage across the ocean, a prisoner's indenture could last 30 years. During the Revolutionary War, prisoners made up the bulk of the British army. After that war, England needed a place to send prisoners. Australia was available. Prisoners were sent from jails in England to prisons in Australia. After the prisoners served their sentences, they were released from prison in Australia. They would never return to England. Their relatives in England would never hear from them again. It was as if once they walked on board the boat they went to their deaths. It was possible for a person in England to write to a person in Australia and get an answer. However, it required an address. Without knowing where they were, it was impossible to contact them. They were dead to their relatives back in England.
Where did the Australians take their prisoners?
Many POWs captured by the Australians were handed over to the Army they were part of. For example many prisoners captured in North Africa would end up in British run POW camps. Additionally there were POW camps all over Australia. In 1944 there were 2,223 Japanese, 14,720 Italian prisoners and 1,585 Germans. The most famous POW camp in Australia is at Cowra in New South Wales where 400 Japanese prisoners broke out through the wire and escaped into the countryside. 4 Australians were killed during the breakout and 234 Japanese.
What did Australia do during the Civil War?
Australia was claimed by Great Britain and colonized by British prisoners. During the Civil War, Australia was still a remote outpost of Great Britain, with no appreciable effect on the war. Of the British colonies, Canada and Jamaica would have had much more of a bearing on the Civil War due to their proximity.
