Backbencher

Lecture four was entitled "Settlement: Convicts and Pilgrims." Dr. Isern discussed the settlement of both Australia and New Zealand, which were settled in quite different ways. Australia was originally a convict colony, because the hulks in England where they kept criminals were overflowing, and they could no longer ship them to America. Thus a colony was made in Australia under military rule. The colony was originally going to be located at Botany Bay, but the area was less than desirable for living, so they moved the colony to Sydney Harbor. Interestingly enough, Sydney Harbor, and more especially 'The Rocks', the original convict settlements, are now Australia’s cultural showcase, housing such things as the iconic Sydney Opera House and an up-scale shopping area.

New Zealand, however, was not a convict colony. The settlement of New Zealand was carefully planned. The settlers were law-abiding and of a good social class, often the second and third sons of wealthy families who had no hope of land of their own if they remained in England.

Dr. Isern also discussed the idea of foundations having a profound influence on the values, culture, and identity of a nation. For example, in the United States, revolution is an important value. It is a vital part of the founding of our nation, and we celebrate it on July 4th, one of our most important holidays. Australia and New Zealand are inevitably influenced by their foundations, and indeed Australia almost seems to celebrate its past as a convict colony (as is evinced by the Sydney Harbor of then and now). Another thing that I found interesting was the Ballad of Botany Bay that was shared in class. There was such a variety of people who the author thought should be sent to Botany Bay, from the mundane to the hardened criminal. It struck me as interesting peek into the ideas of the English people of the time.