Modern Britain: The 20th and 21st Centuries · Summer Term

Modern Policing: Technology & Specialisation

The move from the 'walking beat' to forensics, DNA, and cyber-policing.

About This Topic

As the 'Bloody Code' was phased out, the British government needed a new way to punish criminals without hanging them. The solution was transportation, sending convicts to work in the new colonies of Australia. This topic covers the 'First Fleet', the harsh conditions of the journey, and the 'assignment system' where convicts worked for free settlers. It also explores why transportation eventually ended in 1868.

Students will examine transportation as both a punishment and a method of colonisation. They will look at how the discovery of gold in Australia and the protests of free settlers eventually made the system untenable. This topic is perfect for a 'Decision-Making Simulation' where students act as a government committee deciding whether to send a convict to Australia or to a new Victorian prison.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Convict's Journey

Students are given 'Convict Cards' with a crime and a sentence. They must track their 'journey' to Australia, making decisions about their behaviour that will affect whether they get a 'Ticket of Leave'.

⏱ 30 min·Individual

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Formal Debate: Soft Option or Living Hell?

One side argues that transportation was a 'holiday' to a sunny country with new opportunities. The other argues it was a brutal 'social death' involving forced labour and separation from family.

⏱ 25 min·Whole Class

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Inquiry Circle: Why did it end?

Groups examine four factors: the cost, the Gold Rush, the protests of Australians, and the rise of prisons. They must rank these in order of importance for the 1868 abolition.

⏱ 30 min·Small Groups

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Transportation was only for serious criminals.

What to Teach Instead

Many people were transported for very minor thefts, like stealing a loaf of bread or a piece of clothing. Analysing 'Convict Records' helps students see the reality of Industrial-era poverty.

Common Misconception

Australia was always a popular destination.

What to Teach Instead

Initially, it was seen as a terrifying 'land of monsters' at the end of the world. Peer discussion can help students understand the psychological impact of being sent so far from home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was a 'Ticket of Leave'?

A Ticket of Leave was a document given to convicts who had shown good behaviour. It allowed them to work for themselves and live in a specific area before their full sentence was finished. It was an early form of 'parole'.

Why did the Gold Rush end transportation?

In 1851, gold was discovered in Australia. Suddenly, people in Britain wanted to go there to get rich. The government realised that sending criminals to a place where people were paying to go was no longer a 'punishment' or a deterrent.

How many people were transported to Australia?

Between 1787 and 1868, around 160,000 people were transported. About 80% of these were for property crimes, reflecting the government's obsession with protecting wealth during the Industrial Revolution.

How can active learning help students understand transportation?

By using 'Convict Cards', students follow a personal narrative. This makes the statistics of transportation human and relatable. When they debate if it was a 'soft option', they are forced to weigh the physical hardship against the potential for a new life, which mirrors the actual historical debates of the 19th century.

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