History oF AUSTRALIA

1. SS6H8 The student will describe the culture and development of Australia prior to contact with Europeans SS6H9The student will explain the impact European exploration and colonization had on Australia History oF AUSTRALIA

2. ELEMENTS • Describe the origins and culture of the Aborigines • Explain the reasons for British colonization of Australia; include the use of prisoners as colonists • Explain the impact of Europeancolonization of Australia in terms of diseases and weapons on the indigenous peoples of Australia

3. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS • What are the reasons for British colonization of Australia (use of prisoners as colonists)? • How are the indigenous people affected by colonization (diseases and weapons)? • How did Aborigines migrate to Australia? • What impact did the migration of the Aborigines have on the development of society and culture in Australia? • Why did the British colonize Australia, and what was the impact of British colonization on Australia’s indigenous peoples? • How are the origins of the Aborigine people explained? • How have the traditions and beliefs of the Aborigine people shaped their cultures over time?

4. AUSTRALIA’S ABORIGINES • Aborigines were the first people living in Australia almost 40,000 years ago, and they mostly lived along the coast • Originally Aborigines lived a traditional lifestyle, hunting and gathering for food and clothing and living in small clans as well as trading with one another • They were spiritual, worshipping a religion called Dreamtime • Belief that gods lived in the land and humans affected the land

5. MAP OF ABORIGINES

6. ENGLAND VISITS AUSTRALIA • In 1770, England sent James Cook to explore Australia, which England would colonize • England colonized Australia due to good access for trade and to have a place for its Navy • England would send hundreds of prisoners to England in 1788, turning Australia into a penal colony for convicts • Convicts would do manual labor such as carpentry, farming, nursing and masonry. • The convicts would earn their freedom and they also helped to build the colony of New South Wales, Australia’s first colony

7. SETTLERS ARRIVE IN AUSTRALIA • Around 1793, settlers from England would travel to Australia to live in New South Wales • Many traveled for water and for new land, and many would die from the journey due to a lack of water and being killed by Aborigines • Australia was split by 1864 into four colonies: Van Diemen’s Island, Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales • The Aborigines were eventually moved off the land due to England needing to colonize more land • Each colony would have a governor, towns and financial success

8. EUROPEANS AND THE IMPACT ON ABORIGINES WEAPONS DISEASES • Smallpox, Influenza and tuberculosis were some of the diseases brought by the English that killed many Aborigines • Almost half of the population died from diseases • Aborigines could not contend with the Europeans weapons • Aborigines used spears while the Europeans had guns and cannons • A law was put in place to allow for the English to murder the Aborigines if they were being attacked