Growth of National Identity
- Colonial Unity through Adversity
- By the late 19th century, shared experiences i.e. gold rushes, droughts, and wars. This created a distinct settler identity separate from Britain.
- Cultural Nationalism
- Writers, poets, and painters (e.g., Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson, and the Heidelberg School) celebrated the “bush ethos” (equality, toughness, and independence.)
- Sport and Symbolism
- Cricket and rugby victories against Britain fueled pride in colonial achievement.
- The Role of Education
- Schools promoted civic loyalty and patriotism, emphasizing the “new Australian” or “New Zealander.”
- Shift in Imperial Attitude
- Colonists increasingly saw themselves as partners in empire, not subordinates.
Definition
Bush Ethos
- Ideal of rural simplicity, hard work, and community spirit as national virtues.
Definition
Cultural Nationalism
- Movement expressing pride in local culture, distinct from colonial Britain.
The Federation Movement in Australia
- Divided Colonies
- By the 1880s, six self-governing colonies had separate laws, railways, tariffs, and defense systems.
- Push for Unity
- Calls grew for economic cooperation, national defense, and a stronger Australian identity.
- Key Figures
- Sir Henry Parkes (“Father of Federation”) urged unity in his Tenterfield Oration (1889).
- Conventions and Drafting
- National Australasian Conventions (1891, 1897–1898) drafted the Australian Constitution, modeled on both British parliamentary and U.S. federal systems.
- Referenda and Ratification
