Rogue Nation Rights of Passage (Season 1, Episode 2)
TV Episode | Drama, History

Rogue Nation

Rights of Passage (Season 1, Episode 2)

TV Episode | Drama, History

Historian Michael Cathcart introduces William Wentworth and the "Emancipists", a loose-knit group of former convicts and their children who take on British Governor Ralph Darling in the 1820s in a struggle for independence and civil rights...See moreHistorian Michael Cathcart introduces William Wentworth and the "Emancipists", a loose-knit group of former convicts and their children who take on British Governor Ralph Darling in the 1820s in a struggle for independence and civil rights in colonial Australia. Set in Sydney in the 1820s, the second part of the dramatised documentary history series "Rogue Nation" delves into the conflict between the visionary Governor Lachlan Macquarie, who believes in the redemption of convicts and a fair go for all, and those who argue that his social experiment has gone too far. After 25 years as a penal colony, Sydney's white population has grown to around 36,000, the convict class is creating a new identity, the giant textile mills of industrial England are hungry for wool and the booming Australian pastoral industry, led by John Macarthur, relies on cheap convict labour to supply it. But with the industrial revolution comes a revolution of ideas and Macquarie believes in treating ex-convicts and their children as the equals of free immigrants-granting them land, government jobs, rights and respect. It's a controversial view and strategic lobbying by the pastoralists leads to Macquarie's recall and replacement by Governor Ralph Darling, whose mission is to reassert imperial authority and reinforce the colony's status as a place of punishment. But it won't happen without a fight and the "Emancipists", championed by newspaper proprietor-turned-barrister William Wentworth, challenge Darling head on. At stake is the question of whether a penal colony can ever become a nation. Two high profile cases, the Sudds and Thompson torture scandal and the Jane New trial, expose the frailty of Darling's rule as the "Emancipists" fight back with calls for justice and independence. The despised Governor is sent packing to a colourful Sydney farewell. See less

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28 cast members

Name	Known for
Michael Cathcart Self - Presenter Self - Presenter See fewer	Australia on Trial (2012)
Joey Barton James New James New See fewer	Rogue Nation (2009)
Michael Beattie Private Patrick Thompson Private Patrick Thompson See fewer	All Saints (1998)
Yann Le Berre Francis Girard Francis Girard See fewer	Happy Feet (2006)
Paul Bertram John Bigge John Bigge See fewer	Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Alan Blinder Officer of the Jury Officer of the Jury See fewer	Rogue Nation (2009)
Ian Bolt Justice James Dowling Justice James Dowling See fewer	Heel (2024)
John Brumpton William Charles Wentworth William Charles Wentworth See fewer	The Loved Ones (2009)
Sophie Cleary Jane New Jane New See fewer	Rogue Nation (2009)
Patrick Dickson Governor Ralph Darling Governor Ralph Darling See fewer	A Bridge Too Far (1977)
Katie Fitchett Eliza Darling Eliza Darling See fewer	Darwin's Brave New World (2009)
Anita Hegh Young Elizabeth Macarthur Young Elizabeth Macarthur See fewer	Stingers (1998)
Stephen Hodge Robert Wardell Robert Wardell See fewer	Footy Legends (2006)
Alexander Jenkins John Macarthur Jnr (as Alex Jenkins) John Macarthur Jnr (as Alex Jenkins) See fewer	Home and Away (1988)
Monette Lee Madame Rens Madame Rens See fewer	This Little Love of Mine (2021)
David Lillicot Madame Rens' Barrister Madame Rens' Barrister See fewer	Home and Away (1988)
Tony Llewellyn-Jones Governor Macquarie (as Tony Llewellyn Jones) Governor Macquarie (as Tony Llewellyn Jones) See fewer	Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
Grant Lyndon Sidney Stephen Sidney Stephen See fewer	House of Bond (2017)
Geoff Morrell John Macarthur John Macarthur See fewer	Rogue (2007)
Peter O'Brien John Stephen Jr. John Stephen Jr. See fewer	X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
John O'Hare Chief Justice Francis Forbes Chief Justice Francis Forbes See fewer	Wildside (1997)
Stephen Pease John Wilson John Wilson See fewer	Water Rats (1996)
Adrienne Pickering Sarah Wentworth Sarah Wentworth See fewer	Knowing (2009)
Milan Pulvermacher Boy at Beach Boy at Beach See fewer	The Great Gatsby (2013)
Damian Rice Private Joseph Sudds Private Joseph Sudds See fewer	The Dark Redemption (1999)
Michael Sutherland Police Constable Police Constable See fewer	Home and Away (1988)
Andrew Hofman Edward Macarthur Edward Macarthur See fewer	Rogue Nation (2009)
Benedict Paxton-Crick Amos Crisp (as Ben Paxton-Crick) Amos Crisp (as Ben Paxton-Crick) See fewer	Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)