Were the Convicts Slaves?

Many of the convicts transported to the Australian penal colonies were treated as slave labour. ... Once the convicts arrived in Australia they were subjected to the system of "assigned service", whereby they were leased out to private citizens and placed entirely under their control, often forced to work in chain gangs.

What's the difference between slaves and convicts?

Slaves were the legal property of a person while a convict was someone in jail for committing a crime. Both slaves and convicts had terrible experiences during the First Fleet.

Why did the British send convicts over to Australia?

The convicts were transported as punishment for crimes committed in Britain and Ireland. In Australia their lives were hard as they helped build the young colony. When they had served their sentences, most stayed on and some became successful settlers.