Section 1 Flashcards
Describe the fear of communism and where it came from
- Australia’s post-war decades were shaped by its fight at home and abroad against communism
- Australia feared the spread of communism through Asia to its home front by what it labelled the ‘domino theory’
- Cold War was emerging between the US and the Soviet Union (Russia)
- Australia’s road to Vietnam saw the relinquishing of its old ties with Britain, the gradual development of its new relationship with the US and the new challenges of isolation within its region
- Threat from Australia was from Communist countries but much more important were the wars closer to home such as Indonesian Confrontation and Malay
- Threat of the domino theory
What was the fear of communism known as?
The domino theory
Was populate or perish said after WWI or WWII?
WWII
What happened after WWII in terms of immigration?
- Reassertion of white, Anglo-Celtic Identity
- Required a dictation test eliminating non-European immigration
- Highly selective within European migrant choices (wanted to remain ‘white’)
- Ten pound poms
- Tried to breed out indigenous people by forcing them to marry white or not have children
Who said populate or perish and when?
Arthur Calwell under Prime Minister Ben Chifley’s government in 1947
What was populate or perish?
- Australia’s population needed boosting
- Why Asian people weren’t allowed in to Australia during populate or perish:
- Might be bringing communism with them
- Gold Rush- took over from Australians
- Made a bad view of Asian people
Who was Arthur Calwell?
Immigration minister
What did Arthur Calwell say about multiculturalism?
“We can have a white Australia, we can have a black Australia, but a mongrel Australia is impossible…”
What is associated with the 1950s?
Conservative
Robert Menzies
Liberal party
What is associated with Robert Menzies?
- Liberal party
- Social equality, free enterprise, freedom of the individual
Average annual earnings increase by four per cent each year under Menzies - Australia was aided at the time by expanding world trade and stable international monetary system
- Linked to middle class (growing largest class)
- British heritage re-affirmed under Menzies ‘British to his bootstraps’
What was the communist party dissolution bill?
- Menzies had pursued a ban since the late 1940s and argued the case that the Communist Party should be made illegal in Australia
- Led to a referendum on ban in September 1951 (defeated but a narrow defeat: Just over 500% against ban)
What was the 1967 referendum and its significance?
- 91% voted yes
- Changing the wording in the Australian constitution
- Section 51. “The government had the power to make laws with respect to the people of any race, other than the Aboriginal race in any state”
- Section 127 “In reckoning the numbers of the people of the Commonwealth, or of a State or other part of the Commonwealth, Aboriginal natives shall not be counted”
- Changing this allowed them voting rights and full citizenship
Which sections of the constitution were changed under the 1967 referendum?
- Section 51. “The government had the power to make laws with respect to the people of any race, other than the Aboriginal race in any state”
- Section 127 “In reckoning the numbers of the people of the Commonwealth, or of a State or other part of the Commonwealth, Aboriginal natives shall not be counted”
What was Australia’s forward defence policy?
Fighting with other countries to prevent communist expansion to Australia (Domino theory)
- Provide depth to Australia’s northern defence
- Borneo and Malaya
What was the Great Australian Silence?
Absence of Aboriginal people in our Australian history
Silence only exists in secondary sources
Used euphemisms
E.g. Assimilation
Knew they weren’t supposed to kill people and were trying to justify their actions
Look at the words used
White side not use words like massacres etc. they saw it as ‘helping them’
