Political Impact
- Loyalty to Britain
- Both dominions joined the war immediately in 1914, reflecting strong imperial loyalty and pride in supporting the Empire.
- Conscription Debates
- In Australia, two referendums (1916 and 1917) on military conscription caused deep political and social divisions; both were defeated.
- Rise of Labor Politics
- The Australian Labor Party split over conscription, leading to new political alignments and the rise of Prime Minister Billy Hughes.
- New Zealand Unity
- The Reform Party government maintained stronger unity, though censorship and control of dissent increased.
- Post-war Nationalism
- Wartime service encouraged both nations to see themselves as more than colonies, planting seeds of independent identity.
Definition
Conscription
- Compulsory military service.
Definition
Imperial Loyalty
- Emotional and political attachment to the British Empire.
Social and Economic Impact
- Loss and Mourning
- Around 60,000 Australians and 18,000 New Zealanders died, devastating small communities.
- Women’s Roles
- With men at war, women entered factories, offices, and farms, gaining social visibility but still limited rights after the war.
- Economic Strain
- War loans, falling exports, and inflation led to hardship for farmers and working families.
- Censorship and Dissent
- Anti-war activists, especially trade unionists and Irish Catholics, faced government crackdowns under War Precautions Acts.
- Commemoration
- Memorials and ANZAC Day (April 25) became national rituals of pride and grief.
Definition
War Precautions Act
- Emergency law allowing censorship and arrests of war critics.
Definition
Inflation
General increase in prices and fall in purchasing power.
Case study
The ANZACs and the Gallipoli Campaign (1915)
Background and Campaign
- The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) fought under British command in the Gallipoli Campaign against the Ottoman Empire in 1915.
- Goal: Capture the Dardanelles Strait to open a sea route to Russia.
- Poor planning, harsh terrain, and disease led to heavy casualties; campaign failed and troops withdrew after eight months.
- Approximately 8,700 Australians and 2,700 New Zealanders died.
- Though a military defeat, Gallipoli became a symbol of courage and endurance.
Significance and Legacy
- Birth of National Pride: Gallipoli was seen as the moment Australia and New Zealand proved themselves on the world stage.
- ANZAC Spirit: Represented bravery, mateship, and perseverance against impossible odds.
- Unity through Tragedy: Despite loss, it strengthened bonds between the two dominions.
- Commemoration: ANZAC Day established in 1916 as a national day of remembrance.
- Criticism of British Leadership: Many soldiers and citizens questioned British command, increasing independent political thinking.
Post-War Changes and Identity
- Political Maturity
- Both countries gained greater control over foreign policy and defense decisions after 1919.
- Economic Recovery
- War industries slowed, but returned soldiers boosted urban labor and farming.
- Social Division
- Class tension rose as returning soldiers struggled to find work.
- Women’s Movement
- Wartime service accelerated calls for equality, especially in New Zealand where women already had the vote.
- National Identity
- The ANZAC experience became central to both nations’ self-image as loyal yet independentmembers of the British Empire.
Common Mistake
- Calling Gallipoli a victory: It was a defeat militarily, but a moral turning point in national identity.
- Ignoring social divisions: The war united the colonies but also divided them politically over conscription and class.
- Assuming equality: Indigenous soldiers fought bravely but were denied equal rights upon return.
Exam technique
- Organize by Impact Type: Political – Social – Economic for clear structure.
- Use Key Examples: Gallipoli (1915), Conscription referenda (1916–17), ANZAC Day (1916).
- Link to Identity: Show how shared sacrifice led to new national pride separate from Britain.
Self review
- Examine the political and social impact of the First World War on Australia and New Zealand.
- Assess the significance of the ANZAC experience in shaping national identity.
- To what extent did the First World War strengthen or weaken unity in Australia and New Zealand?
