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Difficulty: MediumArrival of the First Fleet

When the First Fleet reached the shores of Australia in 1788, the eleven ships carried a specific group of people to establish the first European settlement. In addition to the convicts being transported as punishment, who else was part of this first arrival?

  1. A
    A large number of free settlers who migrated voluntarily to start farms
  2. The officials and guards responsible for running the new colonyAnswer
  3. C
    Scientific explorers from many different European nations

Answer

The First Fleet included the officials and guards responsible for running the new colony, alongside the convicts.
The correct answer is correct because the First Fleet was designed to establish a penal colony, which required both the convicts serving their sentences and the military guards and government officials needed to maintain order and manage the new settlement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the purpose of the First Fleet
The First Fleet was sent by Great Britain to establish a penal colony (a settlement for prisoners).
Understanding the purpose helps determine who would be on board.
2
Recall the composition of the fleet's population
To manage a prison colony, both prisoners (convicts) and people to supervise them (officials and guards) were necessary.
A penal colony cannot function without an administrative and security structure.
3
Differentiate between early arrivals and later migration
Free settlers, who moved by choice, only began arriving in Australia after the initial settlement was established.
This clarifies why the 'free settlers' option is incorrect for the 1788 arrival.

Key Concept

Composition of the First Fleet

Hints

1
Think about what kind of people are needed to run a prison colony.
2
The First Fleet wasn't just prisoners; someone had to be in charge of them.

Practice More

Review the reasons why Great Britain decided to send the First Fleet to Australia in the first place.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Arrival of the First Fleet

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