Australia’s Decision – The Empire Awaits

The Era of Empire: By the early 20 th Century (1900s) France and Britain had taken over and controlled large sections of Africa and Asia It was believed that these overseas colonies were an unending source, of wealth (won off the backs of those oppressed), and undoubted prestige (the popular expression at the time was ‘The Sun never Sets on the British Empire’ ) But while Britain and France controlled large overseas territories the other Great Powers, Germany, Austria- Hungary and Russia controlled little or no overseas territory.

Triple EntenteTriple Alliance (Central Powers) France Britain (Australia considered defence or war policy as inseparable from Britain’s) Russia Germany Austria-Hungary Italy (Did not fight with Germany and Austria during the First World War and in 1915 joined the Allies) Turkey (Not a member of the Triple Alliance but joined the War on their side)

There was increasing hostility between the Great Powers of Europe in the early 1900s, particularly between German and Britain, and Germany and France. Britain and Germany had engaged in a serious arms race to build bigger and more powerful Warships and Navies. The European Powder Keg erupted when heir to the Austrian throne Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot by a Serbian Nationalist in Sarajevo in 1914.

Britain was soon at war and expected Australia fulfil her duty and help with the war effort. Did Australia have a choice? Was it so obvious that we would help that no decision was even made? Where we right to help? What was the alternative?

Look at the Poster:- What is the Poster’s Message? Who is it aimed at? Who do you think made it? Would it have Worked?

Using the Same Criteria analyse this Poster

Now analyse the Posters you have been given. First alone and then discuss your thoughts with students around you. Be ready to come back and discuss what your thoughts were with the class

Using the methods uncovered in Studying the World War One Posters, design your own poster keeping in mind what worked and what didn’t in the Posters we studied. The Poster can either be an example of a World War One poster, or one that could be used today to, support the ‘War on Terror’ or Recruitment to the Armed Forces.