
Full Answer
What countries have been used as penal colonies?
Con Dao Island in Vietnam was used as a penal colony both by the French colonists (from 1861 onwards) and by the Republic of Vietnam (from 1954 and during the Vietnam War of 1955–1975). The Ottoman Empire used Fezzan as a penal colony, because it was the most remote province from then the capital city, Istanbul.
How did the convicts escape from the penal colony?
Convicts were dissuaded from escaping by the poisonous snakes in the interior of the island and by the sharks patrolling the 30 km to the mainland. The penal colony closed in 1984 and the last prisoners transferred to the mainland.
What is an example of a penal colony?
Penal colony in the Andaman Islands (c. 1895) The British used colonial North America as a penal colony through a system of indentured servitude. Merchants would transport the convicts and auction them off (for example) to plantation owners upon arrival in the colonies.
Was New York founded as a penal colony?
Even though this largely failed, the idea that the state was founded as a penal colony has persisted, both in popular history and local folklore. When that avenue closed after the outbreak of American Revolutionary War in 1776, British prisons started to become overcrowded.

Which country sent criminals to the penal colonies?
France. This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2018) France sent criminals to tropical penal colonies including Louisiana in the early 18th century. Devil's Island in French Guiana, 1852–1939, received forgers and other criminals.
What were the penal colonies in the late 18th century?
Australian penal colonies in late 18th century included Norfolk Island and New South Wales , and in early 19th century also Van Diemen's Land ( Tasmania) and Moreton Bay ( Queensland ). Advocates of Irish Home Rule or trade unionism (the Tolpuddle Martyrs) sometimes received sentences of deportation to the Australian colonies.
What were the penal colonies in India?
In British India, the colonial government established various penal colonies. Two of the largest ones were on the Andaman Islands and Hijli. In the early days of settlement, Singapore Island was the recipient of Indian convicts, who were tasked with clearing the jungles for settlement and early public works.
What was the penal colony in the Andaman Islands?
Penal colony in the Andaman Islands (c. 1890s) With the passage of the Transportation Act 1717 , the British government initiated the penal transportation of indentured servants to Britain's colonies in the Americas.
Why was Con Dao Island used as a penal colony?
The Ottoman Empire used Fezzan as a penal colony, because it was the most remote province from then the capital city, Istanbul.
How many communists died in the Salazar camp?
At least 32 anarchists, communists and other opponents of Salazar's regime died in this camp. The camp closed in 1954 but re-opened in the 1970s to jail African leaders fighting Portuguese colonialism. Spain maintained a penal colony on Fernando Po in present-day Equatorial Guinea.
How is the Mexican colony governed?
With a small population (fewer than 1,200), the colony is governed by a state official who is both the governor of the islands and chief judge. The military command is independent of the government and is exercised by an officer of the Mexican Navy. The other islands are uninhabited.
Where did the penal colony move to?
The penal colony was moved to various locations around the continent and was eventually shifted entirely to western Australia where it resided far from the newly booming cities on the eastern coastline. The last prisoner transports came ashore in 1868.
When was the last prisoner transport?
The last prisoner transports came ashore in 1868. All together, over 160,000 convicts were transported to Australia between 1788 and 1868 often coming over in penal convoys 1,000 at a time. It all started on this day in history, in 1788, when the First Fleet arrived in the shallow waters of Botany Bay.
When did the convicts arrive in Australia?
Painting depicting a convict uprising in Australia. (Public domain) While the first convicts arrived in 1788, more would soon follow. As trade was established between Australia and the rest of the empire, news began to circulate that Australia was a good place to live.
Who spread the Seven Cities?
Cabeza De Vaca, who spread tales of the "Seven Cities," was originally a crew member on an expedition into:
Which country stopped exploration of Texas?
their failure to find riches led Spain to cease exploration of Texas until much later
Who captured Barcelona?
Franco captures Barcelona. During the Spanish Civil War, Barcelona, the Republican capital of Spain, falls to the Nationalist forces of General Francisco Franco. In 1931, King Alfonso XIII approved elections to decide the government of Spain, and voters overwhelmingly chose to abolish the monarchy in favor ...read more.
What was the first prohibition law in the United States?
The first Prohibition law in the history of the United States is passed in Tennessee, making it a misdemeanor to sell alcoholic beverages in taverns and stores.

Overview
Elsewhere
• Following Alexander the Great's conquering of modern day Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom was used as a penal colony. Today, 18% of the population of Peshwar has Greek genetic markers.
• The Qing Empire of 1636–1912 used general-ruled provinces Jilin (Ningguta) in north-east China and Xinjiang in north-west China as penal colony.
British Empire
With the passage of the Transportation Act 1717, the British government initiated the penal transportation of indentured servants to Britain's colonies in the Americas. British merchants would be in charge of transporting the convicts across the Atlantic, where in the colonies their indentures would be auctioned off to planters. Many of the indentured servants were sentenced to seven year …
France
France sent criminals to tropical penal colonies including Louisiana in the early 18th century. Devil's Island in French Guiana, 1852–1939, received forgers and other criminals. New Caledonia and its Isle of Pines in Melanesia (in the South Sea) received transported dissidents like the Communards, Kabyles rebels as well as convicted criminals between the 1860s and 1897.
The Americas
• Brazil had a prison on the island of Fernando de Noronha from 1938 to 1945.
• Gorgona Island in Colombia housed a state high-security prison from the 1950s. Convicts were dissuaded from escaping by the poisonous snakes in the interior of the island and by the sharks patrolling the 30 km to the mainland. The penal colony closed in 1984 and the last prisoners were transferred to the mainland. …
See also
• Alcatraz
• History of Australia
• History of Canada