Home Front Flashcards
What was the initial reaction to the war?
Enthusiasm
What was recruitment like in 1914?
Successful, allowing for the implementation of strict physical standards
How many men had enlisted by 1915?
Over 50,000
Which Prime Minister resigned, and who replaced him?
Andrew Fischer was replaced by William Hughes
How many men did the British then ask for?
UK War Office asked for 32,000 men and 16,500/month after that
What was the outcome of the 1916 referendum?
The referendum was defeated with 1,087,557 in favour and 1,160,033 against
What happened in the 1917 referendum?
The referendum was defeated with 1,015,159 in favour and 1,181,747 against
What was the War Precautions act?
An act in which Government was able to censor the press and personal mail. Set up camps for people considered security risk. Search and arrest virtually at will, court-martial Australian citizens and restrict movement of aliens living in Australia.
What happened to enemy aliens?
- People whose parents or who had been born in Germany and Turkey. 1915- British Subjects of German Descent were also categorised as enemy aliens.
• Locked up in internment campaigns, report to local police station every week.
• Due to heavy anti-German propaganda, Australians would avoid German shops, verbal abuse, anglicise names.
• Camps were established to hold Enemy Aliens.
What happened to the role of women during the war?
When war was declared, there were clear gender roles for men and women in Australia. However, with war, women became doctors, cooks, drivers, signallers and nurses. Apart from nursing, Government would not send any women to the front.
What happened to Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders during the war?
- Not classified as Australian citizens, Aboriginals were not allowed to enlist.
- Yet many did, but were refused due to race. Wanted to serve their country, sought adventure overseas.
- Wanted to prove that they were just as good, and that 6 shillings a day was high pay.
- As volunteers dropped, Aboriginals were allowed to enlist in non-combatant jobs.
- Needed to prove that they had one European Parent (Half-Caste)
- Indigenous troops served in Gallipoli, Middle East and France.
- Soldiers treated Aboriginals as equals, received DCM, and MM
- When returning home, went back to old treatment, were not equal to soldiers of European Descent.
What were the economic impacts of the war?
- War Stimulated manufacturing, led to doubling of production of textiles.
- Chemicals, electrics, machines and motorcars were first produced in Australia during the war.
- BHP fired its first blast furnace during war.
- British Government bought the entire Wool Clip at 55% above pre-war prices. Also did that for Wheat in 1916.
- Foreign Investment Dried up, so Commonwealth Government raised funds through war loans.
- Also set up CSIRO.
