How Did the British Affect the Indigenous Peoples of Australia?
The British affected the indigenous peoples or Aboriginals of Australia by taking over the land, using up the natural resources, and bringing diseases. The British polluted much of the freshwater on which the Aboriginals depended.
The British confiscated large amounts of Aboriginal land, forcing the natives out. For instance, Sydney was originally home to the Eora people. Not only did the British confiscate lands, but they also used up many of the natural resources that sustained the natives. The British brought in sheep and cattle, driving away native wildlife and using Aboriginal land for grazing lands. This made food more scarce, driving the natives to steal livestock.
The trees were cut down to make way for settlements. Freshwater sources were polluted, including what was known as the Tank Stream. The settlers also brought diseases such as smallpox to the natives. This disease nearly destroyed the native populations.
Furthermore, the British tried to destroy the local cultures, forcing British ideals on the Aboriginals, including education and the wearing of clothes. In an effort to educate the natives, the British set up mandatory schools for Aboriginal children. When the Aboriginals refused to send their children to these schools, the British took the children by force. Over a 100-year period, more than 100,000 children were taken from their parents, never to be seen again.
