The British Empire: A source for good or evil? February 2014 | Page 21

DOC 3 A work of 18th

Like we explained, the convicts
couldn’t see their family and their
friends again. This engraving from
the end of the 18th century
represents a chaplain giving his
blessing to the condemned people
before departure. It was one of the
first boats to go to Australia. So, as
they didn't know exactly what was
going to happen to these convicts,
they preferred to give them God's
blessing.

(http://www2.istp.org/studentscorner/coindesenfants9899/classproj/cm2brigitte/7projets/eleves/WEBGabi/Recherche/LHistoiredAustralie/HistoireAustralie.html)

DOC 4. (books.google.fr/books. “L'aube d'une nation: les écrivains d'Australie de 1788 à 1910.” by Maryvonne
Nedeljkovic)

“Some years before, the prisoner, now called Moodyne Joe, had arrived in the colony. He was a
youth –little more than a boy in years. From the first Day of his imprisonment he had followed
one course: he was quiet, silent, patient, obedient. He broke no rules of the prison. He asked no
favours. He performed all his own work, and often helped another who grumbled at his task.
He was simply known to his fellow-convicts as Joe ; his other name was unknown or
forgotten. When the prison roll was called, he answered to No. 406” John Boyle O’Reilly”
John Boyle O’Reilly was a convict who described the prisoners and their anonymity. Like

Moondye Joe, very often prisoners changed names or were called by numbers. They
were often obedient because they wanted to be acceptable. So their nick names and
their numbers represented them. In this way they left their past behind them and
changed lives.. Moondye Joe's real name was Joseph Bolitho Johns.
True or False ? And justify:
1. When the convicts left prison, they could return to Great Britain.
2. Christopher Columbus discovered Australia in 1868.
3. Moodyne Joe wasn't his real name.
4. Being condemned to a convict colony was considered good fortune.
5. There were 736 convicts on the First Fleet.
FEUILLIC

Lucie COUVEZ & Camille LE