What Is Martial Law?
1. The Black War - Australia 1828
In 1788, the first of the British fleets arrived in Australia and started a new colony. It was used partly as a penal colony, but the British also wanted to take what resources they could. They set about taking what they could from the new country, but the new arrivals were not alone on the island. Australia was already home to an indigenous people: Aborigines. Understandably, the aborigines were not keen on their new guests and tensions were high. In 1828, violence between the British settlers and Aborigines was so prevalent that the then governor declared martial war. Unfortunately for the Aborigines, this gave British soldiers impunity in killing them, and the effect was in place for 3 years.
