How did the criminals sent to Australia survive?

Convicts sent to Australia during the penal transportation period (1788-1868) faced harsh living conditions and many challenges to their survival. However, several factors contributed to their ability to survive:

1. Government Provisions: The British government provided basic rations, shelter, and medical care to convicts. These provisions included rations of food (such as flour, meat, tea, and sugar), accommodation in barracks or huts, and access to medical facilities.

2. Agricultural Development: The British authorities encouraged convicts to work in agriculture, clearing land, farming, and raising livestock. This agricultural labor provided a means for convicts to contribute to the colony's development while also providing a source of food for themselves and the wider community.

3. Labor Assignments: Convicts were assigned various types of labor based on their skills and physical capabilities. This ranged from manual labor (such as construction, road-building, and carpentry) to skilled trades like blacksmithing, tailoring, and carpentry. These labor assignments provided convicts with opportunities to learn new skills, earn wages, and contribute to the colony's infrastructure and economy.

4. Ticket-of-Leave System: After serving a portion of their sentence and demonstrating good behavior, convicts could earn a "ticket-of-leave." This granted them conditional freedom and the ability to work for wages outside the government's control. Ticket-of-leave holders had the chance to improve their circumstances and eventually gain full pardons.

5. Transportation: Convicts were often transported to Australia for relatively minor offenses, and in early years of the British colonization of Australia, most of the convicts were transported for stealing food. While their crimes may have been serious by the standards of the time, they were typically not violent criminals. This meant that many of the convicts had the potential and adaptability to rehabilitate themselves in a new environment.

6. Emancipation: Upon completing their sentences or receiving a pardon, convicts were granted emancipation, which allowed them to become free settlers in the colony. They could own property, conduct business, and participate fully in society, given the necessary requirements were met.

7. Support from Religious and Charitable Organizations: Religious organizations and charitable groups played a significant role in providing assistance and moral support to convicts. They offered spiritual guidance, education, and training programs to help convicts rehabilitate and reintegrate into society.

8. Opportunity for a New Life: For many convicts, transportation to Australia represented an opportunity for a new beginning, away from the poverty, crime, and overcrowded cities of Britain. They could escape their pasts and strive for a better future in the colony.

Despite these survival strategies and opportunities for rehabilitation, many convicts still faced significant hardships, illnesses, and discrimination during their time in Australia. However, the systems implemented by the British authorities and the personal resilience of many convicts contributed to their survival and eventual integration into Australian society.