Governor Charles Hotham
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Before The Eureka RebellionIn August 1854, Governor Charles Hotham toured the goldfields and was impressed with the diggers attitudes and work rates. When Governor Charles Hotham replaced Governor Charles La Trobe, he reduced government spending and began enforcing license laws, he started with twice a week license checks. This brought tension between the diggers & authority. Hotham's actions brought all the simmering anger of the diggers ,from the licence hunts, the incompetence and corruption of the police and the inadequate services provided by the government of the goldfields and on top of that their growing poverty, to the surface
The Start of the Eureka RebellionOn October 6, 1854, two drunken Scots disturbed the publican of the Eureka Hotel, James Bentley, and asked for a drink. One of the Scots, James Scobie, was kicked and clubbed to death. Bentley was an ex-convict from Van Dieman's land who was on very friendly terms with the local government officials, Governor Hotham. He was arrested by two of his friends, but was not committed for trial for murder by Police Magistrate Dewes despite his obvious guilt. The diggers were outraged and saw this as clear evidence of corruption within the police and judiciary. The rage felt by the diggers led to a meeting, held on October 17 to establish a committee to work to bring Bently to trial.
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The Eureka RebellionAfter the meeting, a crowd assembled at the Eureka Hotel and burnt it to the ground. Hotham reacted by ordering the arrest of Bentley and his mates, as well as the diggers who had burnt the hotel. Three diggers were found guilty of arson on November 25. In the meantime, the diggers held a series of meetings and formed the Ballarat Reform League under the leadership of the Chartists Henry Holyoake, George Black and JB Humffray. Throughout November the diggers were frequently provoked by the ferocity of the license hunts. On November 11, a meeting of about 10,000 diggers adopted a program of reform, which was considered radical by the authorities. They demanded the release of the three diggers, the abolition of the License and Gold Commission and the vote for all males. They scheduled to meet with Hotham, but was met by an antagonistic and uncompromising Governor. Throughout December 1, the diggers started building their stockade. The gathered as many firearms as possible, and began forging pike heads. On Saturday, December 2, the authorities decided to launch a pre-emptive strike. In the early hours of Sunday morning, when only about 120 diggers were left inside the stockade. The battle was all over in 15-20 minutes, but for sometime afterwards the police troops went berserk shooting wounded diggers. Five troops and 22 diggers were killed or later died from their wounds. The immediate result of this little rebellion was a public reaction against Hotham and his secretary Foster, which led to the laters resignations. License hunting became non-existent, and the Victorian jury convened to adjudicate the trial of 13 miners acquitted.
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