WWI: Australia's conscription debate

Introduction

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(Billy Hughes addressing a crowd in Sydney's Martin Place, 1916)

Australia was bitterly divided over the proposals for conscription during WWI. In this task, we will be looking at why people were for or against conscription.

Task

WWI: Australia's conscription debate Webquest 

Use the following links to answer the questions below. (Also think about the reliability when you are using the information from the links!)

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

Link 4

Link 5

1. What were some of the reasons for proposing conscription? Quote which link you have used (e.g. Link 1, Link 2...etc.) and comment on the reliability.  

2. What were the plebiscites (sometimes called referenda) bout and what were the results for each plebiscite (referendum)? Quote which link you have used (e.g. Link 1, Link 2...etc.) and comment on the reliability.

For the questions below, answer in terms of the perspective, for/against conscription and some of the reasons for/against conscription in each of the sources. (you can refer to the information from the above links) 

3. Look at this Source. (whose perspective? for/against conscription? reasons for/against conscription?)

4. Look at this Source. (whose perspective? for/against conscription? reasons for/against conscription?) 

5. Read this Speech. (whose perspective? for/against conscription? reasons for/against conscription?)

6. Look at this Source. (whose perspective? for/against conscription? reasons for/against conscription?)

7. Look at this Source. (whose perspective? for/against conscription? reasons for/against conscription?)

8. Referring to the information from the above links, what were some of the other groups who opposed conscription? 

Credits