Timelines In Australian Histroy: The First Fleet

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Timelines in Australian Histroy: The First Fleet EMH204: Assignment 1 Zoe Andersen, 11503993 The purpose of this essay is to discuss the reasons for the journey of the First Fleet, who travelled and their experiences following their arrival. The nature, context and significance of the First Fleet will be explored with reference to personal experiences and stories of the people who made this journey. The First Fleet left Portsmouth on the 13th of May 1787. It consisted of eleven ships, the two main and largest ships were naval ships: The Alexander and The Scarborough. There were six transporters for carrying convicts and three store ships for carrying supplies. The voyage of the First Fleet took place to “transplant European civilisation”…show more content…
Misunderstandings resulted in hostilities between the white and Aboriginals due to cultural and linguistic differences. The arrival of the First Fleet meant that the Aborigines were forced from their land, although this did not happen immediately it had a lasting impact. To Indigenous Australians, the connection with their homelands is a significant part of their identity. The loss of the land and their homes was a heart wrenching process for them. This led to feeling of dispossession, which have continued today. The aborigines had no concept of ownership and could not understand why these ‘white strangers’ couldn’t share their…show more content…
This resulted in a loss of culture and today only a mere 2.5% of Australia’s population is Indigenous. It has become evident that the impact and significance of the First Fleet is of high importance today to us as well as the Indigenous Australians. It also evident that this impact various significantly to European settlers and Indigenous Australians. References: Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2012, May 24). Australian bureau of statistics . Retrieved from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/1301.0~2012~Main%20Features~Aboriginal%20and%20Torres%20Strait%20Islander%20population~50 Convicts and the British colonies in Australia - australia.gov.au. (n.d.). australia.gov.au. Retrieved from: http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/convicts-and-the-british-colonies Crittenden, V. (1981) A Bibliography of the First Fleet. Canberra: Australia.: Australian National University Press Crittenden, V. (1981) The Voyage of the First Fleet. Cook: A.C.T.: The Mulini

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