Women's Suffrage
In what year did women in South Australia first gain the right to vote, and why was this significant?
Women in South Australia gained the right to vote in 1894, which was significant because it was the first colony in Australia to do so and one of the first in the world
How did many Europeans describe Indigenous Australians when they first arrived?
Many Europeans wrongly described Indigenous Australians as “primitive” or “uncivilised.”
What were working hours and conditions like for many factory workers in the 1800s?
Long hours, low pay, and dangerous conditions
What was the White Australia Policy designed to do?
The policy was designed to keep Australia mainly white by restricting non-European immigration.
Why did many Chinese people come to Australia in the 1850s?
Many Chinese people came during the gold rush to search for gold and to earn money to support their families.
Explain how women’s suffrage in Australia was connected to ideas of fairness and equality.
Supporters argued it was unfair for women to follow laws and pay taxes if they did not also have the right to vote like men.
Explain how European views of Indigenous land ownership were different from Indigenous perspectives.
Europeans believed land had to be fenced and farmed to be owned, while Indigenous Australians saw land as shared and spiritually connected.
Explain one way that working conditions affected children
Children were often injured, became sick, or missed school
Explain how the dictation test was used to keep non-European people out of Australia.
The dictation test could be given in any European language, making it almost impossible for non-Europeans to pass.
Explain one reason why European settlers often felt threatened by Chinese immigrants.
Europeans felt threatened because the Chinese worked hard, lived frugally, and often outcompeted European miners.
Why was Australia considered a world leader in women’s voting rights?
Australia was considered a leader because it was one of the first nations where women could both vote and stand for parliament.
Why did Europeans often believe they had the right to take Indigenous land?
Europeans thought the land was “terra nullius,” meaning “land belonging to no one,” so they believed they could take it without permission.
Why did trade unions become important for Australian workers?
Trade unions gave workers a collective voice to demand better pay, shorter hours, and safer conditions.
Why did many Australians support the White Australia Policy at the time?
Many Australians supported it because they feared losing jobs and wages to cheaper non-European labour.
How did European attitudes lead to discrimination against Chinese miners on the goldfields?
Negative attitudes led to violent riots, special taxes, and laws that targeted Chinese miners unfairly.
Describe one argument used by people who opposed women getting the vote.
Opponents argued that politics was “a man’s world” and that women should stay focused on family and home life instead of voting.
Describe how European attitudes toward Indigenous Australians influenced government policies.
Negative European views led to policies of protection and segregation, which restricted Indigenous people’s freedom and rights.
Describe one major achievement of the union movement in improving workers’ rights.
8hr work day, or minimum wage
Describe one way the White Australia Policy affected people already living in Australia
Non-European residents faced restrictions, could not bring family members, and were often treated unfairly under the law.
Describe how newspapers and politicians shaped negative public views of Chinese immigrants.
Newspapers and politicians spread stereotypes that Chinese people were “taking jobs” or “couldn’t fit into society,” encouraging racism.