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In reply to the discussion: Sh*thole Country [View all]Kind of Blue
(8,709 posts)15. Also, "Britain had been shipping convicts to America for decades before
they started sending them to Australia. In fact, it was precisely because of Americas fight for independence that the Brits had to start sending their criminals to Australia. But from 1718 until 1775, convict transportation to the American colonies flourished. Some estimates claim that almost 10 percent of migrants to America during this time were British convicts.
In fact, experts estimate that over 52,000 British prisoners were shipped off to colonial America.
Many Australians have more or less embraced their convict history. But if youre an American who had no idea that your countrys founding included a huge prison population, youre not alone. Historically, Americans have not been too keen on discussing the fact that convicts came to what would eventually become known as the United States.
In fact, experts estimate that over 52,000 British prisoners were shipped off to colonial America.
Many Australians have more or less embraced their convict history. But if youre an American who had no idea that your countrys founding included a huge prison population, youre not alone. Historically, Americans have not been too keen on discussing the fact that convicts came to what would eventually become known as the United States.
https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/britain-sent-thousands-of-its-convicts-to-america-not-1707458418
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Funny (not ha-ha funny) that so many of these countries are the way they are because of us.
CCExile
Jul 2019
#5
You are correct. And Americans are not conscious of this, even the "educated"
DemocracyMouse
Jul 2019
#7
I guess so. But what I understood was Georgia was intended as a penal colony
Kind of Blue
Jul 2019
#24
only a smallish portion of the people who settled the colonies went for religious reasons.
paulkienitz
Jul 2019
#23