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Difficulty: MediumThe Convict System

In the early history of the Australian colonies, the convict system provided a large workforce for infrastructure and farming. Once a person's period of transportation was officially finished, what was their legal status regarding their future in Australia?

  1. A
    They were legally required to return to Great Britain at their own expense to ensure the colony remained for free settlers only.
  2. They became free individuals who were permitted to stay in the colony, own land, and work for themselves.Answer
  3. C
    They remained under strict government supervision for the rest of their lives and were forbidden from ever owning property in the colony.

Answer

Once their sentences were completed, convicts became free members of society who were able to own land and work for themselves within the colony.
The correct answer is correct because the convict system was not just a means of punishment but also a way to populate and develop the Australian colonies. Once a convict had served their allotted time, they were legally freed. These individuals, known as 'emancipists,' played a vital role in society by farming, starting trades, and contributing to the colonial administration.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the nature of the convict sentences in early Australia.
Most convicts were sentenced to specific terms, such as 7 or 14 years, rather than life imprisonment.
Understanding that the punishment had a legal expiration is key to determining what happened afterward.
2
Identify the change in legal status following the completion of a sentence.
Upon completion, convicts were granted freedom (often called becoming an 'emancipist').
This status change allowed individuals to participate fully in the colonial economy.
3
Evaluate the social and economic opportunities available to former convicts.
Former convicts could own land, start businesses, and integrate into the broader community.
The colonies needed a permanent population to develop, and former convicts provided much of this early growth.

Key Concept

Emancipation and integration of convicts into Australian society.

Hints

1
Consider whether the British government wanted the colony's population to grow or shrink.
2
Think about the term 'emancipist'—it refers to someone who has been set free.

Practice More

Research the 'Ticket of Leave' system to understand how convicts could earn some freedom even before their full sentence ended.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

The Convict System

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