Australia at the turn of the Twentieth Century
Overview
Australia at the turn of the Century
On January 1, 1901, Australia was proclaimed a commonwealth by Queen Victoria of England. By the clauses of the new Australian constitution, this upgrade in status meant that Australia was no longer a colony of England; rather, it was an associated nation within the larger British empire based on republican laws and values. It was also granted a parliament. Under the Australian Commonwealth, each of the Australian provinces was granted the status of “states” with their own governments. Australia’s new status provided more rights and freedoms to its white citizens, but it did little to protect its Aborigine population. In fact, the early years of the Australian Commonwealth were marked by increasingly repressive measures against the Aborigines. As Australians worried about internal threats, they also laid the foundation work for an alliance that would bring them into World War I.
Learning Objectives
- Examine Australia’s development, socially and politically, during its early years as a Commonwealth nation.
Key Terms / Key Concepts
Australian Commonwealth: Australian republic founded in 1901
Immigration Restriction Act: immigration act passed in 1901 to restrict emigration to Australia from China, Indonesian, and other parts of Asia
Australians and the Protection of "White Australia"
In the late 1800s, Australia had experienced high immigration rates from China, and many parts of the Pacific Islands, most of which were still under European occupation. In 1901, Australia was proclaimed a commonwealth and given a host of new powers, rights, and responsibilities. Many white politicians felt as though their power was threatened by the increased presence of non-whites in the country. To combat the growing numbers of immigrants, Australians passed the 1901 Immigration Restriction Act. This act, also called the “White Australian Policy,” restricted immigrants from China and Asia. To immigrate to Australia, all immigrants were required to pass a dictation test in which they wrote fifty words in a European language. In addition to restricting immigrants, the measure also helped ensure that Australia remained “British.”
A year later, a bill was passed to restrict voting rights of Aborigines. The Australian Trade Union movement, which gathered nearly a million followers by 1914, similarly echoed the cries of white politicians and argued that Australian businesses should reflect white, Australian purity.
For their parts, the Aborigines mostly remained separate societies from “white” Australia. On rare occasions when the two groups met, the Aborigines were regarded by most white Australians as primitive spectacles to gawk at from afar.
Australia as a Military Power
In the 1900s, Australia had a small but well-trained army. As part of the British Empire, it sent troops to fight in the Boer Wars of South Africa in 1902. But as an island nation far removed from England, Australians started to feel uneasy about their lack of naval protection. In particular, the Japanese victory over Imperial Russia during the Russo-Japanese War made the Australians acutely aware of their expansive coast, and lack of naval power. In 1907, Australians, led by their prime minister, clamored for the creation of an Australian navy.
For four years, Australia and Great Britain negotiated for the establishment of an Australian navy. At last, in 1911, the British constructed an entirely new Pacific fleet. One of the three squadrons created was given to Australia and consisted of three light cruisers, six destroyers, and three submarines.
While tension mounted in Europe, Australia enacted measures at home in case it should be drawn into war. Among its most stringent laws was one passed in January 1911 that required all boys, excluding Aborigines, twelve and older to register for the militia service. Additionally, boys were required to have some military training. Although the law seemed draconian to many in England, Australia saw it as essential. Other than New Zealand, they had no immediate allies, and were separated by vast oceans from England and the United States. If Australia were attacked, it would rely upon itself for defense of the nation. And if pulled into war, it would not be caught off-guard. Indeed, when World War I erupted in 1914, Australia had over 200,000 men working for the Australian armed forces. This reservoir of soldiers would prove critical to the Allies’ war effort in World War I.
Legacy
Australia at the turn of the century was a nation unsure of its place in the world. It was simultaneously a commonwealth with republican laws, but also remained part of the British Empire. Its white population was, generally, very invested in the perseverance of Australia for whites. As a result, Aborigines saw a reduction in the limited rights afforded them. Racial tension remained strong as white Australians developed the eastern Australian seaboard.
For the average, white Australian, though, life in this country “down under” was glorious. Their social security system was unmatched by any country in the world at that time. They were afforded freedom to travel and relocate with government support, free education, and a basic living wage. On the eve of World War I, Australia was still considered a fledgling and inexperienced nation of farmers, miners, bankers, and ruffians. But the war would change that idea forever.
Attributions
Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Welsh, Frank. Australia: A New History of the Great Southern Land. The Overlook
Press, New York: 2004. 334-362.