The Colonization of Australia SS6H6c. The student will trace the colonization of Australia by the United Kingdom.

The Aborigines First settled 40 – 60 thousand years ago in Northern Australia. Europeans called them Aborigines Formed different groups in different parts of Australia Spoke different languages Developed their own culture.

Early Aboriginal Culture Traveled in small groups called clans Shared a common language and religion Elders led the clan and made decisions

Early Aboriginal Culture They were hunter-gatherers Used bones, wood, and stones to construct tools and weapons Religious beliefs centered on the environment Valued art

SS6H6C The first Europeans to sail into Australian waters arrived To reach Australia from Europe, ships sailed south along the west African coast to the Cape of Good Hope and then turned east across the Indian Ocean. For nearly 200 yrs, ships from several European nations sailed to the continent.

European Exploration and Colonization Captain James Cook- 1770 – arrived in Australia and charted the eastern coast in his ship Endeavor. Following orders from King George III, he claimed the territory for Great Britain. Cook named eastern Australia New South Wales.

SS6H6C The British mapped the coast of Australia, including the island of Tasmania

SS6H6C The independence of the 13 American colonies led the British to colonize Australia in 1788. Before American independence, the British sent prisoners to be colonists in the Georgia colony in America. Britain created a new penal (prison) colony by shipping prisoners from Great Britain to Australia. By 1852 when they ended this practice, over 150,000 prisoners had been sent to Australia.

SS6H6C There were four main reasons for the British to colonize Australia. The British wanted to colonize Australia to relieve overcrowding in Great Britain's jails. The British government recognized the importance of having its navy stationed in the Southern Hemisphere. The British viewed Australia as an economic base to expand trade. The British government did not want its rivals, especially the French to start a colony on the Australian continent.

Guns, Alcohol, and Disease Europeans traded with Australia Sent natural resources from Australia to Great Britain European colonists worked at farming and mining

Guns, Alcohol, and Disease Brought advanced weapons which caused deadly wars with the Aborigines Waged war to drive Aborigines from the coastal area. Destroyed many Aboriginal groups with advanced weapons

Guns, Alcohol, and Disease Aborigines fought back, but lost battles. Forced to live on reservation in the interior

Guns, Alcohol, and Disease Also introduced alcohol – many abused it so fighting increased Brought diseases Bodies had no natural defense from these diseases Thousands of people died

Colonization of Australia British established the country of Australia in 1901 Made laws for Aboriginal people who survived. Limited where they could live and work Took mixed children from their home

Colonization of Australia British hoped to end Aboriginal culture 1960’s – government started to change some of the policies

On a separate piece of paper, answer the following: Australia used to be a part of what colony? Why is Captain James Cook famous? How did weapons, guns, and European diseases affect the Aborigines?