Backbencher

Lecture 4 is entitled Settlement: Convicts and Pilgrims. In this lecture we talked about the settlement of both Australia and New Zealand and how their origins differ. Australia’s first Europeans settlers were convicts from Britain. They were let off the boats in present day Sidney and then began the task of setting up an economy. However the failure of agriculture led them to try other enterprises such as ranching. Australians to this day take pride in knowing that their ancestors were the convicts that England brought over.

New Zealand on the other hand was established on the ideals of a planned settlement where land was negotiated fairly with the native Maori. This idea of planned settlement has led New Zealanders to view that their origins created a nation that has more a “prefect” society.

I found this lecture interesting in how the origins of a country define its history. For example the U.S. and Canada were both British colonies, yet our history differs from that of Canada. And so it is with Australia and New Zealand.

-Ron LaMere