In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, explorers from several European nations discovered various parts of Australia, but initially no nation put forward concrete proposals for either the use or the settlement of the land. Dutch explorers first discovered Australia in 1606, but they considered it as being of no economic value to their mother country. British explorers were more fortunate when, in 1768, Lieutenant James Cook, the appointed Commander of His Majesty’s ship Endeavour, discovered the more inhabitable east coast of Australia. In 1770, the British government claimed the eastern half of Australia for the British realm and King George III named it New South Wales.
At this time, no plans were put forward for the settlement of British people in Australia, or for any other use of the land – it became just another part of the Empire. However, in the years following Captain Cook’s discovery, the idea of the newly found land in the far distance began to attract the British government, including the possible use of Australia for convict deportation.
Eventually, the first settlement was a penal one and this is now generally considered to be the main reason for settlement, but the analysis of other factors such as non-convict settlers, economic exploitation of the land, empire building, and the use for strategic military purposes, suggests that convict deportation might have been initially just a convenient solution for a social problem: the disposal of the growing number of convicts that were crowded in hulks along the River Thames. Subsequent naval explorations came to suggest substantial benefits for safeguarding British interests: advantages in the competition for trade with Asia and, most importantly, the strengthening of the British Empire.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Australia as a Penal Colony
- Early Explorations and British Claims
- Convict Deportation and the First Fleet
- The Role of Captain Arthur Phillip
- Settlement Beyond Botany Bay
- Economic and Strategic Considerations
- The Importance of Non-Convicts
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text examines the motivations behind the establishment of the first British settlements in Australia. It challenges the common assumption that Australia was founded solely as a penal colony and explores other factors that contributed to its colonization.
- Convict deportation as a factor in Australia's settlement.
- The role of economic exploitation of the land and natural resources.
- The importance of strategic military advantages and empire building.
- The significance of non-convict settlers in the development of Australia.
- The complex interplay of these factors in the colonization process.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The text begins by tracing the early European exploration of Australia, highlighting the initial lack of interest in settlement by the Dutch and the British government's claim of the eastern half of Australia in 1770. It then delves into the growing pressure on the British government to address the issue of convict overcrowding in the late 18th century, and the eventual decision to establish a penal colony in New South Wales.
The text then examines the role of Captain Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales, and his concerns about the mixing of convicts with settlers. It also explores the critical need for non-convict settlers to guide and supervise convicts, ensuring the colony's survival and agricultural productivity.
The text continues by exploring the expansion of settlement beyond Botany Bay, highlighting the focus on agricultural exploitation in Norfolk Island and the subsequent colonization of Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) with a strong emphasis on timber, crops, and fisheries. It also examines the strategic concerns of the British government in preventing French colonization of Tasmania, highlighting the growing competition between European powers for colonial territories.
Finally, the text emphasizes the significance of economic and strategic considerations in the colonization of Australia, highlighting the government's investment in the venture and its desire to exploit natural resources, secure trade advantages, and expand the British Empire.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The text focuses on the key terms and concepts of convict deportation, colonial expansion, economic exploitation, strategic advantages, empire building, non-convict settlers, agricultural development, and the interplay of these factors in the colonization of Australia. It also highlights the significance of figures such as Captain Arthur Phillip, Sir Joseph Banks, and Lord Sydney in the decision-making process.
- Quote paper
- Sandra Miller (Author), 2003, Australia as a Penal Colony, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/293384
