History (Semester 2) Flashcards
What was the nature of the Protectionism policy?
- Based on stereotypes
- Aborigines forcibly removed from lands and made to live on reserves or missions.
- Missionaries controlled Aboriginals
- ‘Half-caste’ children removed from Aboriginal mothers to be raised in white community
- Dispossession and paternalism
- Became wards of the state & were treated legally as minors (chief protector was responsible for them)
What were the rights denied under the Protectionism policy?
- Basic human rights (all), such as:
- EQUALITY
- Freedom of movement
- Labour
- Custody of their children
- Control over personal property
- Diminution of tradition and culture
Provide examples of Aboriginal responses to the policy of Protectionism.
Cummeragunja reserve:
- The reserve gained a reputation amongst white authorities as ‘trouble-makers’ → they continually defended their rights through strikes, deputations and petitions - Cummeragunja walk-off - Day of Mourning
What was the nature of the Assimilation policy?
- Aboriginals were forced to adopt ‘mainstream’ / Australian culture, in light of the ‘White Australia’ policy
- implemented because the aim for the policy of protection had failed to eradicate aboriginal culture.
- Full-bloods would ‘die out’, and half-castes would assimilate
- Citizenship/Exemption Certificates: “Dog Tags”
- Let them vote, go to hotels, education for children: citizenship rights
- No longer Aboriginals legally
What were the rights denied under the Assimilation policy?
- All denied, though mainly equality
- Aboriginals not allowed to talk to their own race
- Not allowed to continue cultural traditions
Provide examples of Aboriginal responses to the policy of Assimilation.
- Day of Mourning
- Anthony Martin Fernando’s protests
- Gurindji Strike
When did the Stolen Generations occur?
Late 1800s to 1970s
What was the purpose of the Stolen Generations?
to wipe out the existence of Aboriginals by assimilating the new generation into white society
What experiences / things occurred in the Stolen Generation?
- Removals
- Conducted in ways including force, threat, deception and trickery.- Assimilation
- Adoption
- Fostering
- Apprenticeships
- Farm labour
- Experiences
- Children were forced to go, and parents threatened when they tried to stop this
‘taken like animals’- Boys: did farm labour
- Girls: did housework, domestic service
- perpetuated gender roles
- Children were forced to go, and parents threatened when they tried to stop this
- Assimilation
What was the short-term response to the Stolen Generations?
- Physical, mental and sexual abuse of the Stolen Generations
- Diminution of culture by state officials led children to be ashamed of heritage
- Disruption of Indigenous oral culture
- Poor living conditions where children were frequently punished harshly
- Low level of education due to labourer expectations
What was the long-term response to the Stolen Generations?
- Intergenerational traumas
- Generations of children raised in state care due to parents never learning required skills
- Parents never recovered from grief
- High incidence of depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress and suicide among the Stolen Generations
- Loss of culture / oral tradition
- Language
- Land
- Identity
- Distrust of government, police and officials
- Anguish of searching for identity
What are seven examples of Aboriginal activists / activism?
- Anthony Martin Fernando
- Day of Mourning
- Petition to the King
- Cummeragunja Walk-Off
- Aboriginal Progressive Association
- Aboriginal Advancement League
- Gurindji Strike
What was the short-term impact of the Day of Mourning?
- Motivated the Indigenous community
- Empowered Aboriginals
- Showed the government and society their cause
What was the legacy left by the Day of Mourning?
- Recognised by Aboriginal organisations
- However, overshadowed by events such as Australia Day / Invasion Day, which is the opposite of the Day of Mourning.
When did the Petition to the King occur?
1937
What was the Petition to the King?
A petition to King George V from the Aboriginals, requesting his intervention to improve quality of life for the Aboriginals and give them a voice in federal parliament.
What types of activism did the Day of Mourning conduct?
- Community meeting
- Speech
- Marching
- Pamphlets
- Public protest
Who was the Petition to the King organised by?
William Cooper
What types of activism were the Petition to the King?
- Peaceful
- Formal petition / letter
What was the short-term impact of the Petition to the King?
- Increased (moral) motivation of Aboriginal activism
What was the Petition to the King?
A petition to King George V seeking representation in parliament, citizenship and land rights for Aboriginal people
What types of activism were the Petition to the King?
- Peaceful
- Formal petition / letter
What was the legacy left by the Petition to the King?
It was not sent to King George VI by the cabinet, so had no long-term effect.
When was the Cummeragunja Walk-Off?
1953
