British army conquering Australia

1. THE BRITISH
COLONISATION
OF AUSTRALIA

2. Australia’s Aboriginal people
have the oldest continuous
culture on Earth. They are
believed to have arrived to
Australia by boat at least 50,000
years ago.

3. “
Nevertheless, in the late
XVIII century, everything
changed.
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4. BRITISH COLONISATION OF AUSTRALIA
After the loss of the American colonies after the American War of
Independence (1775-1783), Great Britain needed to find alternative
land for a new British colony. In 1770 James Cook came to the rescue
by chartering the waters of Australia and claiming the territory New
Holland as one of Britain's.
In 1788, colonisation of Australia began. On the 26th of January, a fleet
of 11 ships, carrying 1,500 people (more than half convicts) arrived at
Sydney Harbour. From that day forward, Australia became a penal
colony.
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5. BRITISH COLONISATION OF AUSTRALIA
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BRITISH COLONISATION OF AUSTRALIA
Over the next 80 years, more than 160,000 men and women
were transported to Australia as convicts. Free settlers (people
that freely chose to come to Australia) began to arrive in the
early 1790's. They were free to settle their own land and start
their own cities.
Together, the convicts and the settlers developed the cities,
states and territories of present day Australia.

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8. THE CONVICTS OF AUSTRALIA
Convicts were subject to limited freedoms and brutal punishments. Life
in the colonies was hard. They were expected to do hard labour,
building the roads and infrastructure for the new cities. Men
outnumbered women five to one. Good behaviour could grant freedom
while bad behaviour would increase punishments. Criminals could be
sentenced to penal colony simply by stealing a loaf of bread or a button.
After their sentences were over, many convicts chose to stay in
Australia as it was a land of new prospects and opportunities.
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10. THE EFFECTS OF BRITISH COLONISATION
While the new British colony prospected, the effects on colonisation
were damaging on the native flora, fauna and people of Australia.
In the 10 years after colonisation, it is estimated that the Indigenous
population of Australia reduced by 90%. This was due to:
➢ New diseases introduced (smallpox)
➢ Settler acquisition of native land
➢ Direct conflict with the new settlers
Animals like the Tasmanian Tiger and the King Island Emu became
extinct.
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Over 250
indigenous
languages existed at
the time of
colonisation.
Nowadays, only 120
are still spoken.
Many are at risk at
being lost as the
Elders pass away.

13. 67,000= 3% of the Australian population are Indigenous
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14. Australia is part of the British
Commonwealth. It is a self-
governing country though the
Queen is technically the head
of state.
PRESENT DAY
Aboriginal Australians are
still scarred from the
colonisation of their native
land. The government have
taken action to make amends
though there is still a long
way to go.
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26th of January is considered
Australia Day and a national
holiday. Many indigenous
people consider this "Invasion
Day". Do you believe Australia
should celebrate this day?

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The French arrived to the
shores of Australia days after
the British did. What do you
think Australia would be like if
it was colonised by the French
instead?

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