What were the British really doing?
Who went to Australia? Who were the Aboriginals? What is unique about Australia?
During the 18th and 19th century, the British transported their criminals to their Australian penal colony their transportation to Australia impacted the Aboriginals by creating a diverse population and making the culture unique from others.
Historical Background
The continent of Australia has a very interesting past. The people native to Australia are called the Aborigines. They have the oldest surviving culture in the world going back 60,000 years. Their isolationism has made them unique in their lifestyle, culture, and technology. However, being isolated from other regions of the world also caused a problem.
On January 20, 1788, the British decided to use this land as a penal colony for British convicts. They brought European convicts including men, women, and children to the continent. The British treated both the prisoners and the Aborigines poorly. The convicts lived in horrible conditions and had back-breaking jobs. However, once the prisoners gained their independence, many had children with Aboriginal people. The interracial children were called the "half-caste" and they were moved to European establishments to assimilate European culture and "remove" their Aboriginal culture. These children were known as the "Stolen Generation." Even though their population is small, the Aboriginal culture is increasing little by little.
On January 20, 1788, the British decided to use this land as a penal colony for British convicts. They brought European convicts including men, women, and children to the continent. The British treated both the prisoners and the Aborigines poorly. The convicts lived in horrible conditions and had back-breaking jobs. However, once the prisoners gained their independence, many had children with Aboriginal people. The interracial children were called the "half-caste" and they were moved to European establishments to assimilate European culture and "remove" their Aboriginal culture. These children were known as the "Stolen Generation." Even though their population is small, the Aboriginal culture is increasing little by little.