1. Colonization of the Pacific Realm Australia and New Zealand

2. Discovery Starting the 1500s, Europeans began exploring the South Pacific region Dutch sailors first charted the coastline and made contact with the aborigines shortly after Willem Janszoon was the captain of the first ship to make contact with the aborigines James Cook claimed Australia for Great Britain

3. British Prison Colony At first the British used Australia as a penal colony – a prison convicts and marines to start the new colony. In 1788, 11 ships landed with about 760 convicts and marines to start the new colony. About 160,000 convicts sent to Australia – most stayed once their sentence was over From 1788 -1823 Australia was a prison colony - convicts were usually petty thieves from the urban areas of England and Wales. With smaller numbers from the other English colonies.

4. British Prison Colony About 20% of the population of the prison colonies were women. This meant that 1 out of every 5 people was female in the colony.About 20% of the population of the prison colonies were women. This meant that 1 out of every 5 people was female in the colony. Convicts that worked hard and behavior were rewarded with a Ticket of Leave. This was a time off for good behavior system. They were still watched to make sure that they didn’t commit another crime, if they did they would lose the parole and go back to laboring.Convicts that worked hard and behavior were rewarded with a Ticket of Leave. This was a time off for good behavior system. They were still watched to make sure that they didn’t commit another crime, if they did they would lose the parole and go back to laboring.

5. British Colonization As more people both convicts and free settlers came to Australia more of the continent was settled. Soon free British were coming to Australia to settle - by 1861 the European population passed 1 million Settlers came in search of gold, to grow wheat, raise sheep, and mine copper When Cook arrived there were 300,000 Aborigines – by the late 1800s the population had been reduced to about 80,000 The Aborigines were no match for British weaponry nor did they have any resistance to European disease

6. Europeans in New Zealand The first Europeans settlers in New Zealand were probably shipwrecked sailors and escaped Australian convicts They set up small whaling villages along the coast The Maori were successful at fighting the Europeans – however they too had no resistance to disease By 1840, their population had been cut by 50% to about 100,000

7. Building Empires Great Britain divided Australia into 5 colonies - each colony was self ruled and allowed all men to vote Great Britain signed a treaty with the Maori to settle New Zealand The Treaty of Waitangi – the Maori agreed to accept British rule but got to keep their land But in a war in 1860s the Maori lost most of their land anyway

8. Building Empires Many Western countries set up colonies in the South Pacific The small islands were perfect for trading posts and refueling stations for ships

9. Independent Australia In 1901 Australia became an independent country known as the Commonwealth of Australia It is a parliamentary democracy – elective representatives choose the prime minister to head the government.

10. Independent New Zealand In 1907 New Zealand became an independent country It is a parliamentary democracy – elective representatives choose the prime minister to head the government. In 1893 NZ became the 1 st country in the world to give women the right to vote NZ was also the first to give aid to the sick, poor, elderly, and jobless