1. { Movement of Peoples Free Settlers, Slaves, Convicts Source: Carrodus Geraldine et al, Big Ideas – Australian Curriculum History 9, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, 2012

2. Three different groups of migrants Slaves - Slavery has been part of human society since ancient times. Many people have been captured through conquest and enslaved. Transported Convicts – The rapid growth in European cities had an unforseen consequence. There was a drift of people from farms into cities in search of employment. That drift was accompanied by a rise in crime as people struggled to survive. Free Settlers – The brutality associated with the forced movement of slaves and convicts tend to overshadow the stories of large numbers of people who moved across the world relatively freely. Throughout the 18 th and 19 th Centuries, whole families crossed seas in search of safety and better life opportunities.

3. The Journey

4. Free SettlersSlavesConvicts *Most free settlers were searching for a better life. *Early settlers were pushed by economic necessity, natural disasters, conflict and tension, but they have also been pulled by the promise of wealth and a better quality of life. *Paid for their journey on a passenger sailing ship *From the 1820’s the colonies offered assisted migration *The comfort of their journey depended on how much money they paid. 1 st,2 nd,3 rd class. *Kidnapped of the guinea or Gold Coast of Africa. *Herded into cages then loaded into the hold of European sailing ships. *Journey brutal and terrifying *Chained together for 23hrs a day *Allowed 1hrs exercise to maintain health in order to fetch a good price *Holds never cleaned so the stench was unbearable. *Violently punished for any misdemeanors and female slaves were often assaulted by crew members. *Quote from a ships doctor "It is not in the power of the human imagination to picture a situation more dreadful or disgusting.” *Ships carried between 300 – 700 slaves depending on the size of the ship. *Britain was responsible for most transportation of convicts. *First fleet arrived in 1788 of the 1400 passengers more than half were convicts. *More than 160,000 convicts were transport via sailing ships to the Australian colonies between 1788 and 1869 when the practice ceased. *Condition onboard were cramped and dirty, most convicts were restrained in cages below deck. *Cruelty by captains and crew, scurvy, dysentery, typhoid and seasickness all combined to make the journey a horrendous experience. *By 1801 so many convicts died on the journey that the process was reviewed to improve the situation. *A bonus was paid for the safe arrival of the convicts. *One of the convict ships in the first fleet “Charlotte” carried 88 male and 20 female convicts.

5. Arrival

6. Free SettlersSlavesConvicts *Abundant land for the taking – Aboriginals not consider owners as they did not build or fence land. *Free immigration led to the emergence of squatters. Squatters could become very wealthy quickly and move up the social ladder. *Wheat and wool became two crucial products that generated much of Australia’s wealth. *bounty scheme developed in late 1830’s conditions varied. Generally involved landowners or business owners paying the passage of a labourer or sometimes a whole family. In return, the migrant would work for the employer for 2 to 5 yrs, to pay back the cost of the journey. They would receive food and lodgings sometimes even a token income. *On arrival slaves were unloaded and prepared for auction. *Sores covered with tar, troublesome slaves were give laudanum, or brandy to make them more alert. *Slaves were paraded like animals before interest buyers. *Buyers would examine them thoroughly look in their mouths, feel their muscles and even comment on their ability as potential breeders of more slaves. The entire process was dehumanising and undignified. *Most slaves brought to Nth America worked on southern plantations and farms. They were given English names. *The men worked long hours in the fields. *Women may have work in the house, although some tended to the animals and vegetable patches. *Slaves had no idea what was ahead of them. They were in a new land and they couldn’t communicate as they did not speak English. *Slaves in towns worked as house servants, messengers, labourers, coach drivers and blacksmiths. *The government aimed to use convicts to set up long standing colonies. *Once convicts arrived in Australia, their future was largely dependent on their attitude *For many it was desperation to improve their life that led to transportation. If they served their time, there were plenty of opportunities. *Many convicts were housed in government barracks and were sent out daily to work in chain gangs, to build the new colonies infrastructure. *Some convicts were assigned to free settlers to work on farms or to act as labourers in breweries, brickworks, saddleries or smithies. *Convicts played an important role in the development of Australia. Some convicts went on to take up significant positions in colonial society, and even to found dynasties.

7. Treatment

8. Free SettlersSlavesConvicts *Nth America and Australia offered democracy, stability and a future. *The discovery of gold led to even more opportunities. *land may not have been free but it’s prices were low which made it relatively easy for newcomers to acquire fertile but underdeveloped farming land. *Early settlers found life hard as they were unused to the climate, environment and they had to work hard to make a living. *Skilled settlers were highly sort after. *There was a perception that in newly settled lands there was a greater opportunity to think and speak freely, practise one’s chosen religion and express differing political views. They were considered the property of their owners and could be treated in any way their owner wished. Slaves who tried to escape were punished severely. Whipping was common and repeat offenders could have their teeth filed into points so that it was obvious to all that this slave was troublesome. Women slaves didn’t have any rights and were often raped by their masters Any children of the slaves also became the property of their owners. Slavery completed removed roughly 12,000,000 Africans from family, tradition, culture and hope. Slavery was for life and their was no chance of freedom. Work was physically demanding and exhausting *The treatment of convicts depended on the nature of the master *Most were harsh and demanding, but some also showed compassion and fairness, teaching assigned convicts skills that would assist them once they had served their terms. *Had many opportunities to better their life once they had served their sentence. *Until the gold rushes in the 1850’s transportation was a major provider of Australia’s population. *”Many ex-convicts reflected that transportation had eventually provided a better way of life than they could ever have hoped for in their homelands. *Only a small percentage of convicts returned to Britain when they had completed their sentences.

9. Task: Use the photocopy of the Power Point presentation to practice writing the two following ‘Power Paragraphs’ (write the answer to the questions as though they are paragraphs from an essay. Use TEEL or PEE) 1. How did the journey of the three migrant groups differ? 2. In your opinion which migrating group had to survive the harshest treatment.