White australia policy essay

White australia policy essay

The White Australia Policy unofficially began in the 's in an attempt to create a uni-racial Australia. The policy discriminated against any person who was non-European and those of colored races by refusing to allow them to enter the country. The policy succeeded in doing this until the end of World War II, when the bans on immigration Aug 07,  · The White Australia Policy was first promulgated by the first governing Prime Minister Edward Barton who was fearful that if non-Europeans in Australia were left unchecked, they would no longer regard the Australian Parliament as a ruling figure. The basis of these fears originated from a book written by a British-born historian by the name of Charles Henry Pearson in that stated May 12,  · The White Australia policy had an immediate impact, rapidly changing demographics. By only % of the whole population was born outside of Australia, Ireland or the United Kingdom. The effect was most obvious on the Asian population. Though only % of the Australian population in , it had shrunk to around % by the late s

White Australia policy | National Museum of Australia

In the first half of the twentieth century, right up until the s, the Australian government sought to create a single, uniform white Australian culture, white australia policy essay. This was pursued through assimilation policies, which had devastating effects on Indigenous communities.

In the first half of the 20th century it was commonly thought that Indigenous people in Australia would inevitably die out. This approach was founded on the assumption of black inferiority and white superiority. The assimilation approach was outlined at the Initial Conference of Commonwealth and State Aboriginal Authorities in The policy of the Commonwealth is to do everything possible to convert the half-caste into a white citizen.

Assimilation policies presumed that Indigenous Australians could enjoy the same standard of living as white Australians if they adopted European customs and beliefs and were absorbed into white society:. However, in practice, white australia policy essay, assimilation further undermined Indigenous identity and culture and justified the dispossession of Indigenous people and the removal of Indigenous children from their parents.

According to leading Indigenous academic, Professor Michael Dodson. Embedded within the policy of assimilation was a clear expectation of the cultural extinction of Indigenous peoples. During the assimilation era, many Indigenous people were forced to leave reserves, which were often reclaimed by governments for housing and mining. Although life on the reserves was oppressive, it was difficult for Indigenous people to find work in the towns and cities due to the prevalent racism in wider society.

Indigenous people were often refused access to community venues and services, including hospitals and swimming pools. As a result, rather than being assimilated, Indigenous people were often forced to live in poverty on the fringes of town, white australia policy essay. Assimilation policies focused primarily on children, who were considered more adaptable to white society than Indigenous adults. Consequently, one of the main features of the assimilation era was the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families.

Betweengenerations of Indigenous children were removed under these policies, and have become known as the Stolen Generations. The policies of child removal left a legacy of trauma and loss that continues to affect Indigenous communities, families and individuals. Assimilation, including child removal policies, failed its aim of improving the life of Indigenous Australians, white australia policy essay.

One of the main reasons for this was the contradictory logic behind assimilation - it expected Indigenous people to take responsibility for becoming the same as white people, but never gave them the same rights or opportunities to do so. Regardless of their efforts, Indigenous people were not accepted as equals in a society that still considered them to be an inferior race. This essential belief in the inferiority of Indigenous people and their culture undermined the objectives of assimilation policy and led to its failure.

The devastating impact of assimilation policies on families and culture continues to affect Indigenous communities today. Imagine having the people in authority over you automatically assume you are inferior based on something you have no ability to change. What would it feel like to be encouraged to be like the majority culture around you, but then be denied the rights and opportunities to do so? Indigenous Australians still live with the reality that they are a minority group that is often expected to conform with majority norms, biases white australia policy essay values in regard to culture and lifestyle, white australia policy essay.

They also live with the very real gap in well being that affects their ability to thrive within broader Australian society. The forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions white australia policy essay living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this land and commit to building a brighter future together.

Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons. Close Main menu About us Education Professional Learning Workplaces Churches. Close Search Search. The 'Aboriginal Problem' In the first half of the 20th century it was commonly thought that Indigenous white australia policy essay in Australia would inevitably die out. White superiority This approach was founded on the assumption of black inferiority and white superiority, white australia policy essay.

The assimilation approach was outlined at the Initial Conference of Commonwealth and State Aboriginal Authorities in "This Conference believes that the destiny of the natives of aboriginal origin sicbut not of the full blood, white australia policy essay, lies in their ultimate absorption by the people of the Commonwealth, and it therefore recommends that all efforts be directed to that end Stop and think: have you ever struggled with being unaccepted?

Early missionaries to Australia Who were the early missionaries, and what impact did they have? The Stolen Generations The forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. References 1. Commonwealth of Australia,Aboriginal Welfare, Initial Conference of Commonwealth and State Aboriginal Authorities, Canberra, ACT 2.

Commonwealth of Australia, Parliamentary Debates HansardHouse of Representatives, white australia policy essay Aprilpg. Speech by Michael Dodson, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the H.

Nugget Coombs Northern Australia Inaugural Lecture, Darwin, 5 September 4. Behrendt, L. Acknowledgement of Country We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future.

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The White Australia Policy - FUSE - Department of Education & Training

Apr 25,  · Year 10 History Research Essay- The White Australia Policy- Racist or a cautious legislation The ‘White Australia Policy’ was the product of all the fear that the white parliament officials held against anyone with non-European background The White Australia Policy unofficially began in the 's in an attempt to create a uni-racial Australia. The policy discriminated against any person who was non-European and those of colored races by refusing to allow them to enter the country. The policy succeeded in doing this until the end of World War II, when the bans on immigration Apr 29,  · The policy was openly racist, and was designed to support the ideal of Australia as a ‘purely’ white nation, untroubled by the threats non-white populations were thought to pose to the country’s social, political and moral standards. The Australian Government actively enforced the White Australia policy