What changes to Australia’s political and social structure would have occurred if federation had not taken place in 1901? How would these changes have impacted Australia’s social, economic and cultural development?
What changes to Australia’s political and social structure would have occurred if federation had not taken place in 1901? How would these changes have impacted Australia’s social, economic and cultural development?
1 Answer
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If federation had not taken place in 1901, Australia would have remained six separate colonies, each with their own rules and laws. This would have meant that the unified country of Australia as we know it today would not exist. The colonies would have had no unified defence, and would likely have remained largely isolated from each other. This would have had a significant impact on Australia’s social, economic and cultural development, as without a unified government, the colonies would have had more limited resources to fund infrastructure and services, and very limited ability to interact with each other or with other countries. This would have slowed the development of the Australian economy, and limited the ability of Australians to travel and interact with each other.
Explanation
The answer given above highlights the importance of Federation for Australia’s political and social structure. By unifying the six colonies into one nation, the Australian government was able to invest in infrastructure and services that would have been much more difficult to achieve without a unified government. This had a positive impact on the economy, as it allowed for faster economic growth and the development of a more diverse and robust economy. Furthermore, the unification of the colonies allowed for the emergence of a shared culture and sense of nationhood, which has grown to become the basis for a strong national identity.
The implications of the answer are that the unified government was able to provide the resources and services needed to develop the Australian economy, and to foster the growth of a strong national identity. Without Federation, Australia would have been much more isolated and its economy much less developed. This would have had a huge impact on the growth of the nation and its ability to interact with the world. The answer also highlights the importance of having a unified government, as it allows for the pooling of resources and the ability to invest in infrastructure and services that would have been much more difficult to achieve without it.