Module 3: A Sense of Involvement

Announcements F Proposal due Tuesday 25 March F Proposal cover sheets – collect in tutes or from our front desk

Announcements F On the blue cover sheet, you must state your student number correctly – 10 digits, no numbers to begin with D or Q F You must also state your tutor’s name (P Kitley, A Allen, Betty Adcock)

Overview of today’s work First part of the lecture: F The 1850s and Australia’s involvement with Asian immigrants Second part of the lecture: F Australia’s involvement with Asia in the post World War II period

Module Objectives Have a look at page 3.1 in your Study Book The objectives listed there let you know what you have to be able to do after studying Module 3 F Objective 1: ‘after successfully completing this module, you should be able to explain the reaction of the European community to Asian immigration in the 19 th century.’

Our first question … F Why were European Australians hostile to Asian immigrants in the 1880’s?

19th Century Immigration to the Australian Colonies F Once the supply of convicts transported to Australia ceased around 1840, the colonies depended on immigrant labour F Wages and conditions were fairly good F Worker’s organisations feared Asian migrants would undercut wages and conditions

Who Were the Preferred Migrants? F Opposition to Asian and Pacific Islander labour was based on economic factors (wages, jobs) in the first place F Opposition was also based on racial issues: the colonies saw themselves as outposts of the British empire, and did not want to be swamped by Asians

The Effect of the Goldrush F Discovery of gold in Victoria in the 1850s brought great changes to the state F The population rose dramatically from 76,000 in 1850 to 538,000 in a rise of 700%!

Origin of Immigrants

Origin of Immigrants in Order of Magnitude

What was the Basis of Anti- Chinese Sentiment? F Was it a matter of numbers? F Was it Chinese miners’ behaviour? F Was it of their beliefs? F Was it a racial issue? Let’s consider each factor in turn

Explaining Anti-Chinese Sentiment F Numbers F Behaviour F Beliefs F Race

A definition of racism F Racism is the belief in the inferiority of other races, and the damming of other persons of different racial origins solely on the basis of their inherited, unalterable physical characteristics.

Restricting Immigration by Law F By 1888, laws in all Australian colonies restricted coloured immigrants and kanakas (Pacific Islanders)

Restricting Immigration by Law F With Federation in 1901, The Pacific Islanders Labour Act and the Immigration Restriction Act restricted immigration using the “dictation test” criterion

Summary: Asian Immigration in 19 th Century Australia F In the 19 th century, Asian immigrants were discriminated against on the basis of their racial characteristics. F At the heart of this discrimination was the settlers’ desire to establish Australia as an outpost of the British Empire

Part 2 of the lecture Australia’s involvement with Asia in the post World War II period

Part 2 Overview F We will look at Australia’s new interest in Asia and the Pacific after 1945 F We want to be able to explain Australia’s reaction to nationalist and communist movements in the region after 1945 F We want to look at strengths and weaknesses in Australian foreign policy after 1945

Regional Relations After 1945 F Since 1945, Australia has been drawn into closer involvement with the people and nations of the Asia Pacific. F Involvement has not always been positive: it has involved armed conflict

Prime Minister Curtin’s 1941 Statement “… Australia looks to America …” “… we shall exert all our energies towards shaping of a plan, with the United States as its keystone …”

Australia Supports the United Nations F In 1945 Australia supported the creation of a new international body - the United Nations F An Australian, Dr Bert Evans became the first Chairperson of the UN General Assembly

The UN, Indonesia and Australia F On 17 August, 1945 Indonesia declared independence from its Dutch colonial masters F The Australian Labor government supported independent Indonesia and represented its case in the UN

Effect of the Cold War on Australia’s Regional Involvement F Labor Party lost election in 1949 F Liberal Coalition governed from F The coalition was strongly anti-communist F Coalition rule had a profound effect on Australia’s regional relations

Fear of Communism Involved Australia in Regional Wars F in Malaya in the 1950s F in Korea in F in Vietnam

Two Sides to the Story of Australia’s Involvement in the Vietnam war F One view : Australia was pressured to join the conflict by the excessively anti- communist policies of the Coalition F Australia was pressured to join the conflict by the United States F Another view: the first point is probably correct F the second is not. Australia projected itself into the conflict

Fear of Communism Involved Australia in Regional Diplomacy F The Colombo Plan, 1950 F The ANZUS Treaty, 1951 F The SEATO Agreement 1954

Changing Policy Settings ….. F 1967: Nixon’s “Guam doctrine” F 1971 Whitlam’s Beijing visit F Kissinger’s visit to Beijing (the day the Whitlam party left Beijing) wrong footed the Coalition F December 1972 Labor elected to government F The Australian government “recognised” the government of the People’s Republic of China

Reviewing module objectives What have I achieved today? F I can discuss Australia’s involvement with Asian immigrants in the 1850s F I can discuss Australia’s involvement with Asia in the post World War II period