Homework Help: Social Studies: World History: The First Fleet of Australia

Most convicts either did not have a good job or were unemployed therefore had to steal to survive.

Punishment was definitely harsher in the eighteenth century than it is today, only some places in the world still have the death penalty, and sometimes when people steal from shops today they are just made to pay for the item, not even prosecuted.

Evidence of the death penalty being changed to seven years transportation, with highway robbery is the case of Thomas Bryant.

In many places through out the world it is illegal for young children to be employed, as back in the eighteenth century children had to go out and provide for their families. Also their was no limit how old you could leave school, so their was no other option really. back then school was considered a privelage not a priority.

Most of the convicts were sentenced to seven years, this would also make it easier to transport them home in one big fleet.

The voyage was done in stages so they could get more fresh food in order to prevent a breakout of scurvy and perhaps also to make any necessary repairs to the vessel.

There were 759 convicts on board when the fleet first left Portsmouth. Over the stages of the voyage 22 convicts died. 737 managed to make it alive to Botany Bay. The captain I believe would have would have been pleased with this outcome as he prevented the major issue of scurvy by stopping at different places and stocking up on fresh food.

Four out of six infants managed to stay alive throughout the voyage.

Quick Facts on the First Fleet

• The youngest convict on the first fleet was James Grace who was eleven years old
• The oldest convict was a seventy year old lady, Elizabeth Beckford
• Esther Abrahams was a millinner on the first fleet who stole lace for obvious reasons
• Jane Creek also stole feathers
• George Bannister stole a petticoat, cloak, gown and a pair of stockings and was first sentenced to Africa then his sentence was changed and he was sent on the first fleet to Australia
• Francis Woodcock stole sheep
• The punishment for highway robbery was often the death sentence or at least seven years transportation

Homework Help: Social Studies: World History

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