-
1215
King John
King John is a cruel tygrant who ignored the laws of the land and the wishes of his subjects. He is often called 'The Worst King of Engand -
1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta formally recognized rights that already existed. However in Magna Carta these rights for free men. -
Age of Enlightenment
John Locke was the most influential. Hes a pioneer of modern thinking. He believed in 'Natural Rights', rights ALL people should have, just because theyre people. -
An intercolonial cricket team represented Australia in the first test match against England, increasing national pride
Sporting union predated
federation. In 1877 an
intercolonial cricket team
represented Australia in
the first test match against
England. -
Report released by British Major-General Sir J. Bevan Edwards found that the colonies did not have enough soldiers, arms or even ammunition to defend themselves.
Australia was
strengthened by a report released in 1889
by British Major-General Sir J. Bevan
Edwards. It found that the colonies
did not have enough soldiers -
Henry Parkes gave a rousing address at Tenterfield calling for ‘a great national government for all Australians’.
Convinced the colonies would be stronger if they united, Parkes gave a rousing address at
Tenterfield in 1889 calling for ‘a great national government for all Australians’. Parkes’ call
provided the momentum that led to Australia becoming a nation. Aware popular support
was not enough, Parkes lobbied his fellow premiers to back federation. -
The first National Australasian Convention was held in Sydney and was attended by delegates from each of the colonies and the New Zealand Parliament. The delegates wrote a draft constitution
The first National Australasian Convention
was held in Sydney in March and April
1891, and was attended by delegates
from each of the colonies and the
New Zealand Parliament. -
The first referendums were held in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania asking the people whether Australia should federate. However, not all colonies held referendums in protest.
In June 1898 referendums were held in New South Wales,
Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Australia was the first
nation to take a proposed constitution to the people for approval -
Soldiers from the colonies who went to the Boer War in South Africa served together as Australians, increasing national pride
In 1899 soldiers from
the colonies who went to the Boer War in South Africa
served together as Australians. The shift was apparent in
contemporary songs and poems which celebrated Australia
and Australians. -
Second referendums were held in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania. All four colonies agreed to the proposed constitution. Western Australia still refused to take part.
Between April and July 1899 referendums were again held in Victoria, South Australia,
New South Wales and Tasmania, with the result that all four colonies agreed to the
proposed constitution. Western Australia still refused to take part. -
Queen Victoria signed The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act
The constitution had to be agreed to by the British Parliament before federation could
proceed. In March 1900 a delegation, which included an observer from Western Australia
and a representative from each of the other five colonies, travelled to London to present the
constitution to the British Parliament. -
A referendum was finally held in Western Australia. An overwhelming majority of voters agreed to federate.
The referendum was passed in Victoria, South Australia and
Tasmania. However, while a majority of voters in New South Wales
voted ‘yes’ to the referendum, it did not attract the 80 000 ‘yes’
votes set by the New South Wales colonial parliament as the
minimum needed for it to agree to federation. Queensland and
Western Australia, concerned federation would give New South
Wales and Victoria an advantage over the less-powerful states, did
not hold referendums. -
The Commonwealth of Australia was declared on 1 January 1901 at a ceremony held in Centennial Park in Sydney
Australia became a nation
on 1 January 1901 when
six British colonies—New
South Wales, Victoria,
Queensland, South Australia,
Western Australia and
Tasmania—united to form the
Commonwealth of Australia.
This process is known
as federation.
