Part C: Compare and contrast (show similarities and differences) the experiences of Indigenous

people with that of another group of people. Contrast with the group that was selected for Part A.

The group that I’ve chosen to match and contrast with

the Indigenous people are the convicts. While both
the groups have experienced hardships, they both
vary. in regard to the punishments, work and
treatment of the Europeans. A convict is considered
as “a person found guilty of a criminal offense and
sentenced by a court”. They're often referred to
as “prisoners”. People convicted & sentenced to non-
custodial sentences tend to not be describes as
“convicts.” Many British convicts were sent to the
American colonies, like the Maryland, Virginia and
Georgia as cheap labour. The transportation of the convicts from the UK began around 1615
& became increasingly common within the following years.
Convicts were sent to Australia in 1787, arriving in Botany Bay, then Sydney Cove, in
January 1788. From the very start of the European  settlement convicts were used as
indentured labourers in five out of the six colonies. Many were used on construction, but a
big number were ‘assigned’ to personal individuals as domestic servants, rural workers etc.

Convicts were transported to Australia in 1787, arriving in Botany Bay, then Sydney
Cove, in January 1788. From the very start of the European
settlement convicts were used as indentured labourers in
five out of the six colonies. Many were used on public
works, but a significant number were ‘assigned’ to private
individuals as domestic servants, rural workers etc. By day,
the convicts were under supervision by the military guards
and by night they were locked up in small wooden huts.
The punishments received by the convicts were tough. For
the convicts who committed offences in the colony , the punishments given were harsh. Cat
o’nine tails and fifty lashes were amongst the punishments given out. The chain gangs
where they are shackled in ankle chains (weighing around 4 kilograms or more). If the
convicts continued to cause trouble in Australia, they were sent to a more segregated
prison. At remote places like Norfolk Island, Port Macquarie & Moreton Bat, punishment can
be serious. They were forced to work from dawn till dusk at backbreaking tasks. If the
convicts/ prisoners disobeyed and tried to flee, they were lashed, chained or sometimes
execution is placed upon them.

Whilst both the Indigenous Australians and the convicts have suffered, they both go through
similarities and differences. The main similarity between them is that they were both
mistreated and segregated. A difference between them is that the children were taken away
from the Indigenous parents and family whilst the convicts family was taken with them.
REFERENCES:
Vcp.e2bn.org. 2020. Convict Life In Australia - Victorian Crime And Punishment From E2BN. [online]
Available at: <http://vcp.e2bn.org/justice/page11384-convict-life-in-australia.html> [Accessed 24
March 2020].

Digitalpanopticon.org. 2020. Convicts And The Colonisation Of Australia, 1788-1868 | The Digital

Panopticon. [online] Available at:
<https://www.digitalpanopticon.org/Convicts_and_the_Colonisation_of_Australia,_1788-1868>
[Accessed 24 March 2020].