Convict Lives

In response to: Were convicts members of a criminal class?

Since British Settlement in Australia, there has been continued debate over the character and background of the convicts. In addition the significance of their experiences in the penal system and the penal system itself reflects Australia’s unique history. Many ask, ‘ were convicts apart of a criminal class?’ Historian Manning Clarke suggests that many of the convicts wanted to leave Britain due to its poverty and social unrest. He says that the number of unskilled workers outnumbered the skilled workers. Most of the convicts were not farmers but rather from the working industrial class, perhaps the most poverty stricken class in society. Therefore they had to resort to crime as a way to survive. In Australia there was no way this ‘criminal class could survive,’ this was due to the strict servitude of the penal system. There was harsh punishment and as a result, military style rule prevented much rebellion. Historian G.A woods argues that the convicts were more sinned against than sinners themselves. He says that the British legal system failed most convicts who were sent to a colony of pain and miser. In Australia, the convict could be linked to the slave. Between 30 to 40 per cent of all convicts were physically punished by the whip. Historical records suggest also that the crimes in which were committed were varied. Some were transported to Australia for murder or rape, whereas others go sent to Australia for stealing lace. This suggests that though there was clearly a criminal class in Britain that was targeted to be gotten rid of to Australia. Yet many convicts were merely failed by the British legal system, therefore Australia was not intentionally formed on an underclass of criminals.

Early Settlers awaiting punishment by British officers

Source: http://www.gamblingstudy.com.au/images/news/First%20Australian%20Settlers.jpg