In 1918 Australia was a young federation of barely seventeen years, scarred by war and defined by a set of ideas — some proud, some exclusionary — that we need to map before tracing how the next three decades changed them.
Political conditions
Australia in 1918 was a parliamentary democracy with a developing party system: the Nationalists (led by Billy Hughes after his split from Labor over conscription), the Labor Party (wounded by that split), and rural interests soon to coalesce as the Country Party. Politics was shaped by loyalty to the British Empire alongside a growing sense of distinct national identity.
Economic conditions
The economy rested on protectionism (tariffs shielding local industry) and heavy reliance on exporting wheat and wool — "riding on the sheep's back." This made Australia prosperous but dangerously exposed to swings in world commodity prices, a vulnerability the Depression would later expose.
Social conditions and the significant ideas
Three ideas defined the social order:
- Egalitarianism — the belief in a "fair go," though it applied mainly to white men.
- The Immigration Restriction Act (the "White Australia Policy") — assimilation and racial exclusion were official policy.
- The treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples — excluded from citizenship rights, subject to protection and assimilation regimes; yet this period also saw the rise of Aboriginal activism.
Women's position was largely confined to the family and a restricted workforce, despite their wartime contributions. Communism and nationalism were the other ideas whose influence we will trace across the unit.
Let's complete a "significant ideas" foundation table together — we'll add to it all unit.
| Idea | Meaning in 1918 | Who was included / excluded? |
|---|---|---|
| Egalitarianism | The "fair go"; suspicion of class privilege | White men; excluded women, non-Europeans, First Nations peoples |
| Assimilation | Pressure to conform to a British-Australian norm | Applied to migrants and First Nations peoples |
| Nationalism | Pride in a distinct Australian identity | Tied closely to the Anzac legend |
| Communism | Emerging radical-left ideology | Small but feared by conservatives |
| Aboriginal activism | Early organised demands for rights | Led by First Nations people themselves |
Discuss: which idea reveals the biggest gap between Australia's self-image and its reality in 1918?
Q1. Define egalitarianism, assimilation and the Immigration Restriction Act in one sentence each.
Q2. Explain why Australia's reliance on wheat and wool exports was an economic risk.
Q3. "Australia's egalitarianism in 1918 was a myth more than a reality." To what extent do you agree? Support your answer with evidence about at least two groups.