The Causes of Federation in Australia Are Both Pragmatic and Ideological. Outline and Analyse Some of Those Causes as a Rationale for Federation.
The causes of Federation in Australia are both pragmatic and ideological. Outline and analyse some of those causes as a rationale for federation.
The federation of Australia was the development by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland united together and formed one nation. The constitution of Australia came into force on the 1st of January 1901. There are many pragmatic and ideological reasons as to the cause of federation within Australia, which will be discussed in further detail and depth. The pragmatic causes that will be discussed include trade and transport, defense, and immigration. The trade and transport issues relate to the problems and difficulties that Australian’s had in terms of the incoming goods coming from other colonies and overseas. This meant that consumers were buying goods from overseas rather then locally. Implementing federation would mean that tariffs would be put on these incoming goods, which helped protect Australia. Transport was also a major issue within Australia before federation, as each colony had their own rail gauge. This created many issues such as time delays and the inconvenience for people travelling on the trains. Before federation, each colony had their own defence and immigration laws. If federation were to be passed, it would mean that the colonies were able to unite their defence forces, making the nation stronger and keeping out the non-Europeans. As well as many pragmatic causes to federation, there are also ideological causes. The people of Australia wanted to belong to a nation. They wanted people to see how great Australia was. If federation was to be approved, the people of Australia’s national identity would be increased, and they would feel proud and humble about their country. It also coincides with the belief of egalitarianism, the belief that everyone should be treated the same. John Hirst’s view of
The federation of Australia was the development by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland united together and formed one nation. The constitution of Australia came into force on the 1st of January 1901. There are many pragmatic and ideological reasons as to the cause of federation within Australia, which will be discussed in further detail and depth. The pragmatic causes that will be discussed include trade and transport, defense, and immigration. The trade and transport issues relate to the problems and difficulties that Australian’s had in terms of the incoming goods coming from other colonies and overseas. This meant that consumers were buying goods from overseas rather then locally. Implementing federation would mean that tariffs would be put on these incoming goods, which helped protect Australia. Transport was also a major issue within Australia before federation, as each colony had their own rail gauge. This created many issues such as time delays and the inconvenience for people travelling on the trains. Before federation, each colony had their own defence and immigration laws. If federation were to be passed, it would mean that the colonies were able to unite their defence forces, making the nation stronger and keeping out the non-Europeans. As well as many pragmatic causes to federation, there are also ideological causes. The people of Australia wanted to belong to a nation. They wanted people to see how great Australia was. If federation was to be approved, the people of Australia’s national identity would be increased, and they would feel proud and humble about their country. It also coincides with the belief of egalitarianism, the belief that everyone should be treated the same. John Hirst’s view of