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The Dutch were he first Europeans to arrive in Australia. They made one landing in the Netherlands but were driven of by Aborigines and abanonded further exploration.
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Captain James Cook sailed around Australia and claimed the land for England, ingnoring the Aborigines. He named the land New Souh Wales.
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The American revolutin forced the British to stop sending prisoners to her penal colony (Georgia). Australia looked like a good replacement so the "First Fleet" left England to establish a prison colony.
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British prisoners settled in Australia
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New South Wales was officially a penal (prison) colony consisting mainly of convicts, marines (guards), and the marines’ families
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On January 1st, 1861 he Common Wealth of Australia was established.
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The government started passing laws to help Aborigines.
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al legal ties with the Britsh Empire were severd
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55% of voters rejected the idea of becoming an independent republic.
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Australia is a parliamentary democracy (constitutional monarchy) with Elizabeth II as queen
