White Australia

ByS. AngeloHead Teacher HistoryEast Hills Girls Technology High School2007

Immigration Restriction Policy

History– Racist attitudes

EconomicsFear

History

19th C. Australia had a long history of bad relations between white and non-white peopleDiscrimination against Aborigines had existed since Europeans settled hereGold Rushes led to large numbers of Chinese coming to Australia – generally hard working, they were often accused of being evil and corrupt

Racist Attitudes

Darwin’s theory of the Survival of the Fittest gave the idea that humans are superiorWhite people saw themselves as being better than non-white peopleWhite people had been invading and taking over many lands where the black population became virtual slaves – Africa, India and many pacific islands

Economics

Asian workers would work for less money than white workersThe attitudes of trade unions was that it was important to protect the rights of Australian workers – so they did not want Asian or black workers hereThe Working Man’s Paradise would only exist if cheap labour was kept out

FEAR

Many Australians at the time were afraid of– Religions other than Christianity– Coloured immigrants “polluting” our white

“purity” with interracial marriages– what they did not know or understand– Australia filling up with Chinese people

Features of White Australia Policy Part 1

1901 Immigration Restriction Act– Suspect migrants were given a ‘dictation test’– Immigration officers could choose the language for

the test– if they could not pass the test they were excluded– This way exclusion was based on education and not

race

Features of White Australia Policy Part 2

1906 Pacific Islanders Labourers Act– Allowed pacific islanders who were brought to

Australia since 1879 to be returned to their native countries - Kanakas

– Forced out many workers who had made their homes in Australia – especially Queensland

1901 Post and Telegraph Act– Prevented non-whites from handling Australian mail

Questions/Activities

1. Why did the Australian colonies/states want a White Australia Policy?

2. What aspects of White Australia were associated with the reasons for Australia federating in 1901?

3. What features of White Australian life made it a “Working Man’s Paradise”?