Since 1786, when the British government decided to transport their convicts to Australia, many people discussed and debated their real reasons. One of the main streams of thought is that the East coast of Australia was settled with the sole intention of relieving Britain’s overcrowded prisons. This side of view is contemporary to the official position of the British Government at the time. Beside this, a second argument believes in another purpose. The British settlement of Botany Bay must be based on imperial reasons with a greater benefit than to simply separate convicts from society. The debate on the origins of the settlement in New South Wales continues and for both arguments evidence is available. Nevertheless the essay will explore the second view and show that the British government made a momentous decision based on non-convict motives like economic benefit or strategic naval moves.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Reasons for the British decision to colonise Botany Bay in 1788
- The traditional argument
- Economic and Imperial background
- Non-convict motives
- The cost of sending convicts to Australia
- The benefits of using convicts
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay explores the complex reasons behind the British decision to establish a penal colony at Botany Bay in 1788, challenging the common perception that this was solely motivated by the need to relieve overcrowded prisons. The essay argues that the British government's decision was driven by a multifaceted set of factors, including economic interests, strategic naval considerations, and the expansion of British imperial power.
- The importance of Botany Bay as a potential resource base for naval material
- The strategic value of establishing a presence in the South Pacific
- The British desire to expand its global empire
- The use of convicts as a means to achieve these broader goals
- The role of imperial rivalry and competition with other European powers
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay examines the various arguments presented by historians regarding the British decision to colonize Botany Bay. It first discusses the traditional view that the primary motivation was to alleviate overcrowded prisons in Britain. It then presents alternative perspectives, highlighting economic and imperial considerations that played a significant role in the decision-making process. The essay explores the British government's interest in accessing resources like flax, hemp, and timber for naval purposes, as well as the strategic value of establishing a presence in the South Pacific to counter French expansion. It also examines the broader context of European imperialism and competition for global power, arguing that the colonization of Botany Bay was part of a larger strategy to expand the British Empire.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this essay include: British colonization, Botany Bay, convict transportation, economic interests, naval strategy, imperial expansion, European rivalry, and resource acquisition.
- Quote paper
- Erik Rohleder (Author), 2010, Reasons for the British Decision to Colonise Botany Bay in 1788, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/152483
