Anna McKay

Dr. Anna McKay, a historian specializing in the British Empire's prison systems, dives deep into the intriguing history of convict transportation to America. Over 50,000 prisoners were sent across the Atlantic from Jamestown to 1775, playing a surprising role in the colonial economy and labor force. The discussion sheds light on how these convicts were both comparable to indentured servants and subjected to societal scrutiny. McKay also traces individual convict stories, revealing their complex ties to their homelands against the backdrop of the American Revolution.