Social Darwinism In White Australia

In 1901 the Pacific Islanders act and the Immigration Restriction act (White Australia Policy) (WAP) were forced into a reality. The Chinese were working cheap labour and the Europeans were annoyed and they couldn’t find work. In 1903 the Dictation test was put into place as an opportunity for everyone to come into Australia, however, these tests were more often given in languages some people didn’t know existed and this showed because only 46 people passed out of the 805 tests given. The migrants who were rejected were either refused entry or deported. Because of WW1 the Enemy Aliens act was started up so Germans would be separate from the Australians so they wouldn’t fight. Germans were either refused entry or put into a concentration

Social Darwinism is a theory that individuals, peoples, and groups are subject to darwinian laws of natural selection. Another way to describe social darwinism is survival of the fittest. The strongest and the smartest will survive. It is now largely discredited, it was advocated in the late 19th and early 20th century by Herbert Spencer and others. It was used to justify political conservation, imperialism, to discourage intervention and reform and racism. This theory was used to support the laissez faire capitalism and political conservatism.

Racism in Australia is a big problem and needs to be stopped. Racism refers to anything that has the effect of disadvantaging someone from what their racial background is. It affects peoples well-being along with it not being a good look for our nation to have. Is it really okay for people outside of our country to look and us and think that there are still people that are being racist? Opportunities for people should not be judged on their race. This is not fair. Racism is definitely not okay and should be stopped.

For many years Asian Migrants were restricted from entering Australia and found it difficult to migrate due to discriminatory political policies. The main policies were the ‘dictation test’, the policy of ‘Assimilation’ and the ‘White Australia’ policy. The main Asian Migration wave occurred in 1976 after the Vietnam War forced many people to leave there homes and come here to Australia. These Asian Migrants arrived in Australia by boat which was usually very over crowded. The cause of

Racism is discrimination or abusive behaviour towards another race or religion. Australia is a very young multicultural country where at hand is strong evidence to suggest that Australia is racist, and in contrast there are many examples that support this questions that we humans beings can live in peace and harmony with all Australians. According to the ABCDiamond

Following the success of the American Gold rush, the Australian Gold rush attracted many migrants from all over the globe. The Chinese prospectors were perhaps the most controversial and the most interesting nationality to come to the goldfields

Australia in terms of immigration, has had a poor history of dealing with people travelling into the country, shown in the beginning of hand picking the majority of Australia 's population. However as the decades have rolled on, whether it be forced or by choice, Australia has become looser and more free in access and treatment within the country and importantly, less discriminatory. In order to see these improvements, the start must be shown, in which is generally summarised by the White Australia Policy.

The White Australia Policy is a significant event in Australia. This event is not nessacerialy one Australians should be proud of but did help Australia become a better place and helped Australia become what it is today. The White Australian policy affected many non-Europeans seeking safety. The White Australian policy is known to go on for 25 years until in 1966 Prime Minister set a Migration Act.

The white Australia policy was one of the first acts passed by the parliament in Australia, and called the Immigration Restriction Registration Act 1901. This aimed to rid Australia of ‘non-white’ migrants by restricting entry to the country, and deporting those of ‘undesirable migrants.’

The immigration policy of Australia has been in a constant state of flux ever since Federation in 1901, when the first legislative piece, the Immigration Restriction Act, was introduced. The Immigration Restriction Act has become infamous in Australian history and throughout the world, more nefariously as the ‘White Australia Policy’. The White Australia Policy was Australia’s seemingly indestructible way of ensuring a White Australia. However, the immigration of European refugees after World War II, which aimed to defend the nation from Japanese invasion, challenged this policy. From 1901, Australia held a strong belief that coloured people, specifically Asians, were inferior and detrimental to the Australian way of life, and did all in it’s

Today Australia is known as a multicultural country who allows people from all over the world to migrate to Australia. People are definitely not allowed to our country only because of what religion or language they speak, and definitely not based on skin color. Well this was not the case 45 years ago. 45 years ago was when the government stopped the non European immigration policy, which better known as the White Australia Policy. It started in 1901 and ended in 1975. The policy lasted for 75 years. The White Australia policy was not a single government directive, but a series of acts with a common goal, to achieve and maintain a white, British national character. When the policy ended it was a very big turning point in the country because

Because of these tensions restrictions were placed on Chinese miners in the Victorian and New South Wales (NSW) governments. Leading politicians in NSW and Victoria believed there was no room for coloured people in the Australia of the future. When federation came these politicians pushed the Immigration Restriction Act to be passed. The act was commended by most Australian people. The intention of the policy was to create a homogenous population similar to that of Britain.

The Australian Gold rush days had brought may immigrants from all over the world to Australia. Many of the migrants who joined the goldrush left their families and their homeland behind. This is particularly difficult for the Chinese because they come from a traditional culture that focused greatly on family and their village. Most Chinese men who came to New South Wales were not for individual fortune but came for their family. The Chinese immigration shaped and influenced Australian policy for over a 100 year, which became one of the driving factors for the Australian Federation.

Australia’s history has shown a “White Australia” policy from as early as 1850. It began with competition in the goldfields between immigrant Chinese and the British miners caused a severe amount of tension. Eventually turning into riots (Buckland Riot in 1857 and the Lambing Flat Riots in 1860 and 1861) Victoria and New South Wales put restrictions on Chinese immigration as well as residency taxes. This has been described as the earliest sign of the White Australia policy.

Social Darwinism was a sociological theory that merged Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection and the work of Herbert Spencer, Malthus, and other scientific and sociological theorists to justify imperialism, racism, and conservative economic policies. The overall acceptance of the power of nature in defining human beings developed during the 18th century Enlightenment. Europe’s exploration not only brought about immense economic and agricultural growth, but also exposed them to “human behavior and life patterns within environments and under circumstances dramatically different than their own” (4). The most popular catch phrases of Darwinism, “struggle for existence” and “survival of the fittest”, when applied to the life of man in society, suggested that nature would provide that the best competitors in a competitive situation would win, and that this process would lead to continuing improvement” (6. Hoft). This misinterpreted sense of superiority engulfed much of society at the time and was used to justify the logistics behind certain actions regarding capitalism, racism, and imperialism. Furthermore, it served as the backbone of some of the most heinous acts imaginable including the genocide and sterilization of certain groups of people.