Rum Corps

Subject  > History Term Papers  > Australian History

There are many reasons as to how the Rum Corps (formally known as the New South Wales Corps) came to have so much power over the first settlement of Australia. The NSW Corps were sent to Australia to be the enforcers of law, after the Marines departed Australia. Because of this, they had a major influence over the survival and growth of the colony. They all had comparative wealth, and a considerable amount of control over convict labour. They also came to have so much power as it was easy for them to overthrow those who challenged them and their rules/punishments; due to their high status within the colony. For many, serving in New South Wales was not a good thought, ...

... to his house and found Bligh supposedly hiding under his bed, apparently after trying to destroy as many official government documents as possible. They placed Bligh under house arrest and later allowed him to return to England. For two years after this, the colony was governed by officers of the Rum Corps. In conclusion, the New South Wales Corps gained their power through the selling and paying of services through rum, as well as their position as the enforcers of law. The colony became so dependant on rum that when someone came and tried to put a stop to it, they were furious and did everything in their power to ruin their reputable name. The NSW

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