Backbencher

Lecture 4 was titled "Settlement: Convicts and Pilgrims." Australia was started as a convict settlement. Convicts from Britain were shipped to Australia. The convicts had a slogan that they were being shipped to Botany Bay, the bay of New South Wales. They first went to the New South Wales colony, present day Sydney. They were also shipped to Van Dieman’s Land and Western Australia. The convicts were called political dissidents or Irish Republicans. The convicts worked 56 hours per week to build the community and some even worked on Sunday, their only day off for some cash or rum. The convicts that were incorrigibles were sent to islands of the coast, such as Norfolle Island. This island was considered the worst place, the Botany Bay of Botany Bay. Now the island has practically no crime, which is interesting but makes sense with its small population. The transport is an interesting way to punish/banish criminals, but it eventually became less effective. The convict transport ended between 1852 and 1868.

New Zealand had a very different type of settlement. It was settled by pilgrims with a planned colonization. The plan was to establish a class system and each class would work together to become a "Better Britain." New Zealand attracted the upper classes but not as many of the lower classes. Land was sold at a sufficient amount and pastoralism became a large industry. I found it interesting that a plan for New Zealand was formed before people started moving there. I would assume most colonies didn’t have a such an elaborate plan and just went with the flow.