How has Wars Shaped Australia?
Over 100,000 Australians have lost their lives through war. Many more have been wounded while the number to Australians who have served abroad in wars is eight to nine times that number who have also died. These bare statistics alone show the significance that war has had for Australia.
Australia's history is unlike other countries in that since the Europeans first came and disliking of the Aboriginals on the land, Australia has not experienced an attack or war on Australia soil. Yet the Aussies have fought in ten wars. All of them were begun by other nations and involved Australia because of it's overseas ties or simply for security of the country. Most have been those with Great Britain and the United States.
It has been noted in earlier parts post-second world war Australia was a very traditional civilization. In the late 1960s and the 1970s, this fact began to change. Like many Western countries, Australia entered a period of liberalisation - in politics, fashion, gender roles, and even religious beliefs. War had helped shape our society that could question it's government's movements and try to change the world around it. A large part of this liberalisation in Australia was seen by the end of the 70-year-old 'white australia' policy.
There were 3 main parts of Australia that changed from the effects of the wars:
- population change
- new government policies
- multiculturalism
War began to an impact on Australia and Australian society during the late 1800s as well. Australia's contribution in several small wars during the second half of the 19th century which allowed the colonies to demonstrate their loyalty to Britain and helped strengthen regal ties. These overseas connections also encouraged the colonies to believe that they could occupy a larger place on the world-wide stage.
Australia's history is unlike other countries in that since the Europeans first came and disliking of the Aboriginals on the land, Australia has not experienced an attack or war on Australia soil. Yet the Aussies have fought in ten wars. All of them were begun by other nations and involved Australia because of it's overseas ties or simply for security of the country. Most have been those with Great Britain and the United States.
It has been noted in earlier parts post-second world war Australia was a very traditional civilization. In the late 1960s and the 1970s, this fact began to change. Like many Western countries, Australia entered a period of liberalisation - in politics, fashion, gender roles, and even religious beliefs. War had helped shape our society that could question it's government's movements and try to change the world around it. A large part of this liberalisation in Australia was seen by the end of the 70-year-old 'white australia' policy.
There were 3 main parts of Australia that changed from the effects of the wars:
- population change
- new government policies
- multiculturalism
War began to an impact on Australia and Australian society during the late 1800s as well. Australia's contribution in several small wars during the second half of the 19th century which allowed the colonies to demonstrate their loyalty to Britain and helped strengthen regal ties. These overseas connections also encouraged the colonies to believe that they could occupy a larger place on the world-wide stage.