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1st Europeans to visit Australia
The first Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch, but they didnt settle there. -
Captain James Cook sailed around Australia
Captain James Cook sailed around Australia and named the area around him New South Wales. He ignored the Aborigenes, and claimed the land for England. -
The British left England with convicts
British ships called the "First Fleet " left England with convicts to establish a prison colony in Australia, and the British prisoners settled there. -
Government Officials created boundries
The Government Offiacials created the boundries for the colonies which are still in place today.There are 7 independent colonies. -
The British transported prisoners
The British transported prisoners to Australia until 1868. By that time many immigrants settled there. -
Commonwealth of Australia established
The Commonwealth of Australia was established.
- Originally Australia promoted a policy called "White Australia"
they would not allow non-Caucasians to immigrate to Australia
- has since changed
- Immigration Restriction Act of 1901: restricted migration to people primarily of European descent -
Canberra became capital
Canberra, New South Wales became the capital of Australia -
The Federal government try to help Aborigenes
The federal government tried to pass laws to help Aboriginal people. The Aboriginal people went on strike to recalim their land. -
Australia Act passed
Australia Act passed: this ended the leagal ties with the British Empire -
The government battle
Today Australia is a parlimentary democracy (constitutional monarch) Queen Elizabeth 2
55% voters rejected becoming an independent republic
