Australian Gold Rush - Another Birth of the Australian Nation?

This essay deals with the ‘Gold Rush' in Australia at the middle of the 19th century, which nowadays, according the public opinion, belongs to the nation’s folklore, and pursue the question how the history of Australia has been influenced by this ‘Gold Rush’. Those effects of the gold fever are divided into three aspects which are intertwined with each other: population balance, law and an emerging national identity. It shall be shown how these three issues are caused by the discovery of gold and are mutually dependent.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Population
• Law Reforms
• The Eureka Stockade
• Land Reforms
• Emerging National Identity

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay explores the profound impact of the Australian gold rush in the mid-19th century on the nation's history, focusing on its influence on population balance, legal structures, and the emergence of a national identity. The essay argues that these three aspects are interconnected and were significantly shaped by the gold fever.

• The dramatic population growth resulting from immigration and internal migration within Australia.
• The influence of the gold rush on legal reforms and the development of representative government.
• The emergence of a distinct Australian national identity shaped by the goldfields and the ‘Eureka Stockade’.
• The role of the ‘Eureka Stockade’ in shaping a national identity based on defiance of authority and egalitarianism.
• The complex relationship between the gold rush and the development of Australian agriculture.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first section examines the dramatic population growth that occurred in Australia during the gold rush. It highlights the influx of immigrants from various countries, particularly from Germany, the United States, and China. This section also explores the impact of internal migration within Australia, with many Australians leaving other colonies to seek their fortune on the goldfields.

The second section explores the legal reforms that were brought about by the gold rush, including the introduction of representative government in Victoria and the emergence of a middle class. The section focuses on the social and political tensions on the goldfields, culminating in the ‘Eureka Stockade’, a rebellion by miners against the colonial authorities. The essay discusses the consequences of the ‘Eureka Stockade’ for the development of Australian law and government.

The final section explores the complex question of how the gold rush influenced the emergence of a distinct Australian national identity. It examines the role of the ‘Eureka Stockade’ in shaping a national identity based on defiance of authority and egalitarianism. The section also explores the debate regarding the roots of Australian national identity, including the influence of bush culture and the work of key figures like Richard White and Russel Ward.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This essay explores the Gold Rush in Australia, focusing on its impact on population dynamics, legal reforms, and the development of a national identity. Key terms include: gold fever, population balance, law reforms, Eureka Stockade, national identity, mateship, defiance of authority, egalitarianism, and the Australian bush heritage.

Details

• Grade: 100/100 Pkt
• Author: Daniel Lennartz (Author)
• Publication Year: 2008
• Pages: 7
• Catalog Number: V138864
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640484720
• Language: English
• Tags: Australia Australien Goldfieber Gold Rush Ballarad Nationhood Nationalismus The Lambing Flat Riots Australian Law Reforms Australian Constitution Act Henry Holyoake George Black Humffray Eureka Eureka Stockade Eureka Rebellion White Australia Policy