Conscription

[Em1993]

Did the issue of conscription result in long lasting and deep divisions in Australian society? (1914-1918)

[factor-fiction]

For some families. Do I get an A*?

[factor-fiction]

Just type your own question into google and you'll find lots of articles on this issue. And/or look at you course books.
Is it A level or beyond?

[dothawkes31]

you need to look at the politics first and the trade unions, then the regional opposition to build up some evidence that it did divide, then maybe look at which areas of society were affected, women, workers, then look at the post war impact and see how the Australians recovered from the war and move onto the lasting effects conscription had leading into World War 2. The weight of your essay should be on the opposition to the attempts to introduce it, which is where the issues of division first arose. I would also touch on the aboriginal aspect if you can find anything .

[Mr Veritas]

In the UK (at least) there was NO conscription for WW1 (there was for WW2) so I don't think that there would be conscription in Oz for WW1 either (I may be wrong).
If I am right your question has no basis in fact.

[Mr Veritas]

Apologies,conscription (UK) started in 1916.

[factor-fiction]

There was an issue about conscription in Australia (and Canada) in WW1. There's an article here:
http://en.wikipedia.o...cription_in_Australia
I've not read it so i don't know if it happened or was just proposed (I know there were votes on it at the time)

[beso]

Yeah. Women (who couldn't be conscripted back then) supported it. My wife's grand father was a mature boy aged 16 and women put white feathers in his pockets on the bus. He went to war to void being shamed and was crippled for his whole life.

If conscription was to be brought back today it would have to be applied to women too due to laws about equality. How far do you think it would get?

[dundurn]

Getting back to Australia in WWI (remember the original question?) - listen to Dot! Additional factors to consider are ancestral origins of Australians - convicts v soldiers, Irish v other UK and Catholic v Protestant.

[factor-fiction]

em1993- hope this info helps. If these answers meet your needs (and I can't see you getting anything better unless someone writes your essay for you) I think it's worth posting a reply to your own question saying "Thanks. That's enough for me."

[Em1993]

Thanks everyone :) You have all helped so much.