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demands. But if they spoke with a united voice the “inaudible squeaks” of the six
separate colonies would be magnified into one combined “loud speaker” that would
compel attention.
(4) ...
(5) ... (Cramp, 1927, p. 189)
Two of the five reasons given for Australia’s federation are to do with Australia’s connection
to Great Britain; one for existing connections and one for future or planned connections. A
link to British heritages is given as the primary reason for Federation, with point one stating:
“British settlements should feel a common interest because of their common race. They
should come closer together, and not drift apart” (Cramp, 1927, p. 189, emphasis added).
Here, those who personally have British heritages (family, ancestry) are legitimised as
Australians and having a voice in Australian political decisions. All other groups are silenced
and excluded, including Indigenous Australians. It is through the “common race” (Cramp,
1927, p. 189) of being British that Federation is justified. Given that the majority of
Australians at this time were of British heritages (although ‘British’ in itself is not a
monoculture despite being presented in this way), this can be seen as representative of the
general population, however all other voices are excluded.
The second point of British heritages being viewed as a reason for Federation is articulated as
a future or planned connection with Great Britain, sometimes articulated as “England”
(Cramp, 1927, p. 189). Here, it is argued that as one nation rather than separate colonies,
England and other nations would be more likely to listen to the perspectives of Australia.
This is articulated by emphasising that the weaknesses of separate colonies “the “inaudible
squeaks” of the six separate colonies” (Cramp, 1927, p. 189, emphasis added) would instead
be made stronger, “magnified into one combined “loud speaker” that would compel
attention” (Cramp, 1927, p. 189, emphasis added). Therefore, it is through strength of unity
that Federation is justified. Furthermore, although not articulated overtly, Australia is
presented as having an interest in being heard by other nations; not as a weak nation, but
rather one that wants to have “influence with the rest of the world” (Cramp, 1927, p. 189).
5.8 Category 5: World War I
Due to the enormity of this topic, and also being a focal point for this dissertation’s research
for this era, WWI is organized within its own stand alone category. Within this, various
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