Convict Transportation

Convict transportation was a practice used primarily by Britain from the late 18th to the mid-19th centuries, where individuals convicted of crimes were sent overseas, often to penal colonies in Australia. Instead of serving time in overcrowded prisons, convicts were put on ships and transported to these distant lands, where they could work on farms or in settlements. This approach aimed to relieve prison overcrowding, deter crime, and establish colonies. Many convicts eventually gained their freedom and contributed to the development of Australian society. The practice was officially abolished in 1868.