AustraliaColonisation.pptVIP

Australia Colonisation, Nationhood and the Aborigines Paradise? The Outback Nature Lack of animals plants suitable for farming (Jared Diamond – ‘Guns, Germs and Steel’*) ‘Guns, Germs and Steel’ “History followed different courses for different peoples because of differences among peoples environments, not because of biological differences among peoples themselves.” (Jared Diamond 1997: p24) Aborigines – original inhabitants Nomadic hunter-gathering peoples (300,000 pop.) ‘Dreamtime’: nature-worshipping religion Aborigines After Colonisation (1788) Australia declared to be ‘Terra Nullius’ – empty land Conflict disease (90% die) Segregation assimilation Languages: 250 drop to 45. Pop. now 150,000 (2.2%) ‘History wars’: controversy over how to interpret Australian history. Penal Colonies Convict labour: 160,000, 1788-1868 (but resulted in a lack of women). Also ‘free’ immigrants attracted by land and gold. Some foreign labour (incl. Chinese) But free immigrants opposed convict and foreign labour because it affected wage rates The Australian State, 1901 ‘White Australia’ policy Gallipoli, 1915 (ANZAC Day) Deaths - Australia: 7,594 New Zealand: 2,431 British Irish: 22,000 France: 27,000 Turkey: 57,084 Indians: 1,700 After the Battle of Gallipoli, Australia never again allowed its soldiers to be commanded by others Gallipoli represents the beginning of an Australian national identity and ANZAC day is commemorated every 25th April. Singapore 1942 1939, Australia declared war on Germany (with the UK) But Britain failed to defend Singapore against Japan (lack of aircraft) Australia realised Britain could not defend it and withdrew its soldiers from Europe to fight the Japanese After WW2, Australia turned to the US for security (ANZUS Treaty with US and NZ) Australia had therefore developed its own distinct foreign policy Summary Aboriginal peoples were mainly hunter-gatherers with a (‘dreaming’) nature-worshipping culture, in a isolated land, mostly unsuitable