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The Industrial Revolution Begins
The Industrial Revolution was begun, in the corse of this year, by a combonation of things, one of which was the vast increase in accessability of iron in Britian. Much of the 'action' aslo took place in America, later moving to Europe and then Australia, where many of our most important day-to-day things were invented. This helped our ancestors to colonise Australia and shape it to how it is today -
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AUS Studies: The Industrial Revolution to WW1
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Electricity
In America, 1752, Benjamin Franklin made an experiment, flying a kite that was struck by lightning. Electricity was discovered not invented, and Franklin began a series of highly important events that have shaped the world we live in today. Australia depends on electricity and without it we would be in the dark. This was the route of Franklin's investigations, people wanted a better way to light thier houses, without oil or candles. -
Sextant
In this year the vital navigational tool called the sextant was invented by John Campbell. This instrument uses the stars, moon, or sun to calculate a ships position at sea. It was an improvement on a previous invention called the octant, and without this ingenious invention, the Europeans may have had some trouble discoverying Australia. Without it, we would not be here today. -
Discovery of Australia
It is quite possible that there was knowlege of Australia before this, as early as the 13th Century, including French, Portugese and Chinese, but these earlier discoveries make little difference to us as no move was made to claim our land. There was a claim on Tasmania made by Abel Tasman, a Dutchman, but the British overuled this. James Cook was the first British explorer to venture down here, searching for the Great Southern Continent, and he mapped our East Coast and claimed it as NSW. -
The First Fleet
The group of ships we now know today as The First Fleet set sail from Portsmouth in England, 1787. The trip to Australia took around 10 months and the main reason for the voyage was to begin settlement in Australia, to make it into a prison. 780 convicts were taken to Australia with the first fleet and this is when the British convict settlement began. -
The Common Assembly Line
The first record of the assembly line was during this year, when a man called Eli Whitney decided to make rifle parts for the U.S. Army the same so that they could be produced quickly and changed if needed. It is unlikely he was the first to make interchangealbe parts but he is the most known for it. Of corse he could not make this huge number of rifles by hand. These events helped settlers to colonise Australia, much of thier equipment would have been created through the Assembly Line. -
First Sucsessful Steam Train
There was a lot of trouble making this engine but finally made its first outing on this date. It was self propelling and was the first of many in the Industrail Revolution. The steam engine itself was being worked on and was completed beforehand but this was the first vehicle that used it to power it. Australia was later to recieve this great invention -
Telephone
The idea of the telephone was begun in 1844, when the man Innocenzo Manzetti speculated about a 'speaking telegraph' later to be called a telephone. There was much development into this and we now use the telephone every day. This picture displays a phone which was later developed in Sweden. -
Australian Gold Rush
In Febuary of this year there was true development into the discovery of gold in Australia. By the end of this year a massive boom had begun and Australia's economy was growing. Loads of gold was found and hstory was made for us. Much immorgration took place and this meant huge differences for this country. It has helped to shape Australia today and there is still evidence of the changes it made, such as the first signs of multi-culturalism. -
Ned Kelly
This year saw the uprising of the most infamous bush ranger in Austrain history, Ned Kelly. This man is now an icon in our culture and has shaped the way we live today. He and his gang were responsible for many policemen deaths, robberies and other offences. They were at large until 1880, where a massive battle took place and those that were captured were hung for their offences. -
The Light Bulb
By this stage the idea for using electricity to make light was already strong and fully formed. However, Thomas Edison focused his life entirely on it and was thee first to make a fully functional light bulb. He had many troubles but made a full-on breakthrough and managed to find a material strong enough for the fiiament. Austrlia uses the light bulb every day and it's very important to us today. -
Ballpoint Pen
This brilliant method of writing with quick-drying ink and without having to dip into a bottle of ink all the time came in many incarnations over the years. The first known patent issued for one was on this date by an American leather tanner who wished to write on his thick leather This first pen had a stored resivour of ink and roller ball on the tip. Mass production of this pen didn't come until 1935. Australian's today now write with something that originated from the tanner's idea. -
The Boer War
This war was the fault of the British, who tried to rule the Boer people of South Africa. The native Africans feared an invasion and thus retaliated. This had been expected as the British and Boer people had never had a very good relationship. War broke out in 1899 and Australian soldiers were called to help. During that time Australia was still made up of colonies, thus units were formed by each different one. It waa a war over greed and land, unfortunatley many lives were lost. -
Federation
Before 1901 the peoples of Australia were divided into 6 colonies. They lived under laws given to them by the British and were completely isolated from each other. However, when the radio began to connect them they realised more of what it was to be Australian and began to discuss issues like defence. There was much to be considered and there were problems but eventually, on the stroke of midnight, New Year's Eve of !990, the proposal had been passed and a great ceremony took place. -
Capital Canberra
December of 1908 brought the passing of a government act to make a capital far enough away from Sydney to keep Melbourne from getting jelious but still within the state of NSW. There just so happened to be a settlement already in a convienient place and so the Yass-Canberra area began to be surveyed for building plans. After more waffling and desisions by the Government building began and now we have the fine capital, parlimentry city of today. -
Automated Assembly Line & Car
During this year, Henry Ford began to use an automated version of the Assembly Line. This also meant the begining of a fast and efficient way to make large numbers of his cars. This method has made things a lot easier for everyone, including Australians, today. -
The First World War Begins
The event that sparked the beginnig of WW1 was the assasonation of the Archduke and heir of Austro-Hugaria, Franz Ferdianadz in Sarajevo, Jun 1914. This led to the outbreak of war, countries from all over the world were recruted, including Australia. We felt the need to defend our mother country, Britian, and men from the age of 18 onwards were conscripted to fight alongside NZ, forming the ANZACs. -
The ANZACs at Gallipoli
The story of the ANZACs is one that is told and retold as part of our great nations history. The tragic battle on the Gallipoli Peninsula of Turkey was a fight by us to claim Turkish land, to help us win the war. It is one of the biggest military losses of our time and many men on both sides were lost. However, it has brought our two countries, Turkey and Australia, together and over all it has shaped us for the better. -
End Of The First World War
This day brought a great victory for Australia and all our allied forces. In the year proceeding this date, there had been strikes on Berlin and other offensive strikes by us, driving the Germans back. On 11/11 there was a meeting held by the leaders of both sides and an Armistice was signed, to declare an end to the war. This day is remembered by Australian every year, a minutes silence at 11:00 am on the 11th November.
