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
