The people that are native to Australia are called Aboriginies. They lived in Australia in tribes. Their lives were disrupted when James Cook, the first man to land on Australia, arrived and claimed the land for the King of England. There was a lot of conflict between the settlers and the Aborigines, very much like what occurred in America.
The King decided that he didn't like the land, so he sent convicts, or people that have committed crimes, to Australia after the American War of Independence. The First Fleet of convicts came and soon after their arrival, diseases spread rapidly. After a while, the convicts desperately needed supplies.
Almost fifty convicts died before the Second Fleet arrived. Even though the Second Fleet brought fresh supplies, close to 300 convicts died between the First and Second Fleets. For this reason, the first convict ships are called the "Death Fleet".
In present-day Australia, January 26 is Australia Day, a holiday for some. For others, it is a day of mourning and protest because the founding of Australia led to disease and death.
For more historical information visit the website! www.lonelyplanet.com
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