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Chapter Five: Before and immediately after WWI
5.1 Historical Context of the Era
This period in Australian history is characterised by the rapid social and political change that
occurred as a result of Australia’s participation in World War One (WWI), known at the time
as The Great War 7 . Social issues prominent at the time include, but are not limited to: debates
about military conscription; issues of independence from Great Britain; equipping Australia
with an effective military defence; and Australia’s participation as a nation in the
international arena. This era was also significantly influenced by domestic affairs, namely the
continued affective unifying of Australia in the years post-Federation. In addition, other
aspects of social and political life beyond those described here played important roles in
shaping Australia’s national identity, such as the role of women in the workforce and
growing political rights. However, only issues covered by the school History curriculum texts
are included for analysis in this dissertation.
For Australia, in the time period during and immediately post WWI the socio-political
discourses are characterised by topics such as national debates about conscription of militaryage
males, the rise of different forms of government epitomized through struggles between
socialism and fascism, Australia’s repayments of war loans to Great Britain, and government
support of the unemployed during the economic depression of the 1930s. These issues are at
times overshadowed by The Great Depression, which from 1929 to the outbreak of World
War Two (WWII), greatly impacted and influenced not only the general way of life of
ordinary citizens, but also domestic politics, including changes in legislation to support the
growing unemployed. This period, characterised by rapid and continued social and political
change, is detailed by historians such as Scott (1930), Bean (1921), and in more recent times
Adam-Smith (1984), M. Clark (1963, 1995), Blainey (2000), MacIntyre (1993, 1999), and P.
Hamilton (2003). The vast amount of research committed to this period of Australia’s history
is representative of the importance placed on Australia’s involvement in WWI as an
influential and lasting factor in shaping the nation’s identity and cultural history.
7 At the time of the conflict (1915-1919), what is now known internationally as World War One or The First
World War was then being referred to as The Great War, or more simply, The War. It was not until the World
War Two era that this conflict became known differently. Therefore, unless quoting from primary source
documents, the term World War One, or WWI, is used here. This is because this is the current commonly
accepted term for this conflict.
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