what is a penal colony?

Question

can u plz explain and do u think the colony of georgia was one? im doing ap us history...

Answer 1

A penal colony is a colony used to detain prisoners and generally use them for penal labor in an economically underdeveloped part of the state's (usually colonial) territories, and on a far larger scale than a prison farm. The British Empire's use of parts of Australia, a 'virgin' continent, provides the classic example.

The prison regime was always harsh, often including severe physical punishment, so even if not sentenced for the rest of their natural lives, many died from hunger, disease, medical neglect and excessive efforts, or during an escape attempt.

In the Penal Colony system, prisoners were deported far away to prevent escape and to discourage returning after their sentence expired. Penal Colonies were often located in frontier lands, especially the more inhospitable parts, where their unpaid labour could benefit the metropoles before immigration labor became available, or even afterwards where they are much cheaper; in fact sometimes people (especially the poor, following a similar social logic as could see them domestically 'employed' in a poorhouse) were sentenced for trivial or dubious offenses to generate cheap labor.

The British used North America as a Penal Colony through the system of indentured servants. Most notably, the Province of Georgia was originally designed as a penal colony. Convicts would be transported by private sector merchants and auctioned off to plantation owners upon arrival in the colonies. It is estimated that some 50,000 British convicts were banished to colonial America, representing perhaps one-quarter of all British emigrants during the eighteenth century.

When that avenue closed in the 1780s after the American Revolution, Britain began using parts of modern day Australia as Penal Colonies. Some of these early colonies were Norfolk Island, Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales. Advocates of Irish Home Rule or of Trade Unionism (the Tolpuddle Martyrs) often received sentences of transportation (the harsh regime started during the long shipping) to these Australian colonies.

In colonial India, the British had made various penal colonies. Two of the most infamous ones are on the Andaman islands and at Hijli.

France sent criminals to tropical penal colonies. Devil's Island in French Guiana, 1852 - 1939, received forgers and other criminals. New Caledonia in Melanesia (in the South Sea) received dissidents like the Communards, Kabyles rebels as well as convicted criminals.
In Ecuador, the Island of San Cristobál (in the Galapagos archipelago) was used as a penal colony 1869 - 1904.
Both Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union used Siberia as a penal colony for criminals and dissidents. Though geographically contiguous with heartland Russia, Siberia provided both remoteness and a harsh climate. The Gulag and its tsarist predecessor, the katorga system, provided penal labor to develop forestry, logging and mining industries, construction enterprises, as well as highways and railroads across Siberia.


The Georgia Colony

Georgia was the last of the thirteen original colonies to be settled, and, though it long remained the weakest of them all, its history is very interesting. It, too, was a country of refuge for those suffering persecution, but their affliction was different in its nature from those of whom we have made record.

One of the remarkable facts connected with the government of nations claiming the highest civilization, hardly more than a century ago, was the brutality of their laws. Many crimes, comparatively trifling in their nature, were punishable with death. One of the most cruel of these oppressive laws was that which permitted a man to throw into prison a neighbor who was unable to pay the money he owed. If a poor tenant fell ill, and could not pay his landlord, the latter could have him flung into jail and kept there until the debt was paid. Since the debtor was unable to earn a penny while in prison, and probably his wife and children were equally helpless, the landlord thus deprived himself of all possibility of getting his money, while the wretched debtor literally "rotted" in prison. Thousands died in dreadful misery, merely because they were poor.

This system of allowing imprisonment for debt prevailed in our own country until within the memory of men still living. It makes one's cheeks tingle with shame and indignation to recall that Robert Morris, who devoted all his wealth and energies to raising money for the patriots during the Revolution, who furnished Washington with thousands of dollars, and but for whose help the war must have failed, became poor after independence was gained and was imprisoned for debt.

The system caused-such horrible suffering in England that the pity of all good men was stirred. Among these was James Edward Oglethorpe, one of the most admirable characters in modern history. He was a brave and skillful soldier, eminently just, of the highest social position and a member of the Parliament. He determined to do something practical for the perishing debtors in English jails. He, therefore, asked George II to give him a grant of land in America to which the imprisoned debtors could be sent, and the king, whose heart also seemed to be touched, promptly did so. It was said of Oglethorpe that the universal respect felt for him made certain that any favor he asked of his own associates or friends would be willingly granted.

The king not only presented him with valuable equipments, but Parliament granted him a liberal sum, to which wealthy citizens added. He had the best wishes of his entire country when he sailed for America with one hundred and fourteen persons. He named the new colony Georgia in honor of the king, and began the settlement of Savannah in 1733, Darien and Augusta being founded three years later. It need hardly be said of such a man, that, like Penn and Baltimore, he bought the lands anew of the Indians and retained their friendship from the start. On one of his visits to England he took a party of red men with him, entertained them at his country place and presented them at court.

The Spaniards claimed Georgia as their own territory, and raised a large force with which to expel Oglethorpe, whose colony had been increased by the arrival of other immigrants, but the English officer handled his men with such extraordinary skill that the Spaniards were utterly routed.

It would be supposed that Georgia would have been one of the most successful of the original colonies, since seemingly it possessed every advantage, but such was far from the fact. One cause for this was the "coddling" the pioneers received. They were harmed by too much kindness. Had they been compelled to hew their own way, like their neighbors, they would have done better. They were like children spoiled by being granted too many favors.

Another cause was the poor laws by which the people were ruled. Slavery at first was forbidden within its borders, though it was tolerated all about them. Then, in 1747, the trustees yielded to the general demand and admitted slavery. Other rules caused discontent, and many settlers moved away. Population appeared to be at a standstill, and finally the trustees in 1752 surrendered their rights to the crown. More liberal laws followed and the prosperity increased.

Of General Oglethorpe, it may be added that he lived to reach his ninety-eighth year. It was said of him that he was the handsomest old man in London, and people often stopped on the streets to look at and admire him. He always had a warm regard for the American colonies. Indeed, it was this marked friendship for them which prevented his appointment as commander-in-chief of the British forces during the Revolution.

Answer 2

A penal colony is a colony set up for prisoners! Actually, prisoners were sent into penal colonies less on the basis of their crimes, but to meet quotas that were set by the government that had laid claim to the land.

Many regions that were once the locations of penal colonies have become quite prosperous including Australia, Georgia (as you mentioned), and Uruguay.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

A penal colony is ANY area (island, special community, etc) that is used strictly as a correctional/prison facility.
For example, the entire continent of Australia, which was a British possesion, was originally used by the Brits as a penal colony since it was so harsh and remote, and so far way from England. The worst criminals in the British Empire were sent there.

Answer 4

A penal colony refers to a settlement populated with settlers who are peing punished. So yes, settlements in Georgia were penal colonies. I don't remember the particulars of why this area was selected. Several cities in Australia also began as penal colonies. Prisoners convicted of certain crimes or individuals in prison to settle debts even were sent or elected to travel to these colonies as punishment. There was a lot of risk in settling in a new area, and so these early inmates/settlers placed their lives on the line.

Answer 5

i believe the answer is that a penal colony is a place inhabited by inmates. something like a prison, but for those prisoners that aren't considered 'dangerous' to others. georgia was a 'slave state'. there is a difference. slaves, unfortunately, were owned; penal colony is for those who have broken the law.

Answer 6

it was where the uk used to deport prisoners in the 1700s-1800s it was a form of ethnic cleansing that we wouldnt ever admit too.

The British colonies in North America received transported British criminals in the 17th and 18th centuries, the biggest penal colony being Georgia which was opened in 1732. The American Revolutionary War brought an end to that means of disposal, and the British Government was forced to look elsewhere.


this may help

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_colony

Answer 7

Lousiana was one, specifically the area known as "The Bayou". This is where the British sent many French-Canadian residents of Acadia (which the British renamed Nova Scotia) after taking control in 1755.

"Acadians", as the exiled French called themselves, is pronounced roughly as "Acadjuns" in French. This was later shortened to "Cadjuns", or "Cajuns", and is how the modern French residents of Lousiana got their cultural name. The surviving traditions of literature, music, culinary skills, and strong family and ethnic loyalties were all inherited from the French-Canadian cultures in Quebec and Acadia.

Also, check out "Botany Bay" in Australia. This is the penal colony where the British sent their felons in the 19th century, and provided the basis for the modern Australian population. Like the culture of the Acadian exiles, the Australian culture is strong and rich.

Answer 8

It is like a camp where the criminals live. Those days are gone. A colony for the penalized.

Answer 9

It simply means a place where they keep prisoners in a "camp" like setting instead of having walls like a prison.

or example, instead of putting people in jail, England sent a lot of them to Australia. As a penal colony, it didn't require walls or guards, and the prisoners didn't return to England, and it helped establish England's hold on Australia.

Answer 10

its a colony of small rodents that were known as the pena and they all liked to huddle together in groups throughout the contiguious united states, they were a simple lot at first not able to forrage for food or store dry goods but they eventually caught on as they grew and began to learn,
they were covered with small white greyish hair and they loved the bongo drums this was ultimately their downfall
good luck on your penal paper

Answer 11

its a colony used to hold prisoners. yes georgia was one.