Industrial Revolution Defining Moments, 1750–1914

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Investigation 1: Introducing the Industrial Revolution (1750–1914)

1.2 Australia and immigration

<p>View near Woolwich in Kent shewing [sic] the employment of the convicts from the hulks’, about 1800</p>

State Library of New South Wales a928944

How can we see the impacts and influence of the Industrial Revolution on migration to Australia?

During the Industrial Revolution in Britain the population of cities increased greatly. This was due to several factors:

natural population growth through births
an increase in life expectancy
the arrival of many English agricultural labourers who had lost their jobs when fields were consolidated and enclosed, which had made farms larger and more productive, with fewer workers
the arrival of Scottish highlanders who had been forced off their farms
the arrival of Irish farmers, suffering from starvation caused by disease among potato crops.

People came to the cities seeking work in the new factories that were becoming mass employers. Workers often had to live in poor and crowded areas in the cities, and some turned to crime to survive and feed their families.

Is there a connection between these features of the Industrial Revolution and Australia?

Look at the following two case studies to help you begin your investigation. You may then need to do further research to add to your ideas.

Case Study A: Convict transportation

Case Study B: Free immigration

Case Study A: Convict transportation

<p>‘Convicts letter writing at Cockatoo Island N.S.W.’, by Philip Doyne Vigors, 1849</p>

State Library of New South Wales a928881

Australia was founded as a colony in 1788. Look at the Defining Moment in Australian history: 1833 Convict transportation to Australia peaks when nearly 7000 people arrive in one year. Read the sections ‘Convict crimes’ and ‘Convict life in Australia’, and answer these questions.

1. During what period were convicts sent to Australia?

2. About how many people in total were transported?

3. Where were most sentenced?

4. For what crimes were most sentenced?

5. A number were political prisoners. Drag the correct term against its explanation:

6. What happened to most convicts in Australia? Choose the most accurate general outcome.

7. What link does convict transportation have to the Industrial Revolution?

Case study B: Free immigration

<p><em>Emigrants Landing at the Queen’s Wharf, Melbourne</em>, by Frederick Grosse</p>

National Library of Australia, obj-135652434

There were also free settlers who arrived during the first century of European colonisation in Australia. Look at these statistics and answer the questions:

Year	Convict	Free		Total
		Unassisted	Assisted
1788–1800	6650	1100	-	7750
1801–1810	4590	1400	-	5990
1811–1820	17,170	2000	-	19,170
1821–1830	32,390	11,200	-	43,590
1831–1840	50,690	23,108	43,292	117,090
1841–1850	33,325	38,253	70,697	142,275
1851–1860	11,460	371,604	230,596	613,660

8. Were most people who came to Australia in the period 1788–1860 convict or free?

9. Of the free settlers, were most assisted (some or all of their travel was paid for by the colony) or unassisted (the migrants had to pay for their own travel)?

10. What would we need to know about the people who came to Australia to decide whether their emigration was caused by the Industrial Revolution in Britain? List possible information.

11. From these case studies, did the Industrial Revolution have an influence on migration to Australia? If so, was it a major or minor influence? Explain your views.

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