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The first Europeans to sail to Australia were the Dutch, but they didnt settle there.
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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.
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British ships called the "First Fleet " left England with convicts to establish a prison colony in Australia, and the British prisoners settled there.
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The Government Offiacials created the boundries for the colonies which are still in place today.There are 7 independent colonies.
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The British transported prisoners to Australia until 1868. By that time many immigrants settled there.
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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, New South Wales became the capital of Australia
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The federal government tried to pass laws to help Aboriginal people. The Aboriginal people went on strike to recalim their land.
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Australia Act passed: this ended the leagal ties with the British Empire
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Today Australia is a parlimentary democracy (constitutional monarch) Queen Elizabeth 2
55% voters rejected becoming an independent republic
