From 1788 to 1800, a large proportion of the english-speaking population in australia consisted of
a. convicts
b. farmers
c. miners
d. ranchers

From 1788 to 1800, a large proportion of the English-speaking population in Australia consisted of (a.) convicts. Tens of thousands of convicts were shipped from Britain to Australia (transportation to New South Wales). English convicts were transported to America. But America refused to accept any more convicts, so England had to find somewhere else to send their prisoners (the American War of Independence ended).

As new machines were invented in Britain, people were no longer needed to do farming jobs so the cities became overcrowded. People didn’t have a job (they stole things to survive). Minor crimes such as stealing items were punishable by transportation. The prisons quickly became full and prisoners were kept in old, rotting prison ships.

i am pretty sure it is d.