timeline similarities Blog #4

The origins of the United States, Australia and New Zealand are all extremely similar.  The three of us began with natives and we were all inhabited by the British.  In New Zealand’s case “James Cook first visited the Maori in 1769, [he] opened the door to European (chiefly British) settlement” (Culture Grams).  Then 19 years later “Great Britain [had] laid claim to Australia and established penal settlements beginning in 1788”(ABC CLIO).  Of course we know that our country started with 13 British colonies, and then along came war and our independence was born. There was also war between the natives of New Zealand and the British as well. All three countries began with British settlers which in my opinion, gives our three countries a connection through time.  A commonality of our origins is fascinating.  Another commonality between our histories are the gold rushes that occurred in each country.

 

Edward Hargraves found gold during the California gold rush and “returned to Australia… in 1851 determined to discover gold in New South Wales, and by February, he had paned a few grains from a creek near Bathurst. He advertised his find in newspapers throughout the country, and by May, the Australian gold rush was under way” (ABC CLIO).   This one person created a connection between our countries by starting the Australian gold rush after being at the one in our country. Then, a few years later, in New Zealand “The discovery of gold in 1860 brought a new tide of settlers” (ABC CLIO). Overall each of these three countries attracted Europeans with the offer of a new world to enter. People flooded to each country for colonies and gold. All of our countries connect in the sense that our beginnings were based on adventure into the unknown and the desire to discover new and exciting things.