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Difficulty: Very hardFederation of 1901 and the Commonwealth

Before 1901, Australia was comprised of six separate, self-governing British colonies that operated much like independent countries, with their own laws and defense forces. On January 1, 1901, these colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia. Considering the structural and constitutional changes that occurred during this process, which of the following statements accurately describes the status of the colonies after Federation?

  1. The colonies became states within a federal system, maintaining their own parliaments and constitutions while sharing specific national powers with a new Commonwealth Parliament.Answer
  2. B
    The colonies were dissolved and merged into a single unitary state, resulting in the immediate closure of all local parliaments to establish a centralized government in Canberra.
  3. C
    The colonies remained entirely separate and independent from one another, signing a treaty to only share a common flag and postal service without creating a new national government.

Answer

The colonies became states within a federal system, maintaining their own parliaments and constitutions while sharing specific national powers with a new Commonwealth Parliament.
The correct answer accurately reflects the 'Federal' nature of the Australian Constitution established in 1901. Under this system, the six colonies became states. They did not give up all their power; instead, they kept their own constitutions and parliaments to manage state affairs, while a new Commonwealth (Federal) Parliament was created to handle matters that affected the whole nation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the political situation of Australia prior to 1901.
The land consisted of six separate British colonies (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania), each with its own government.
Understanding the starting point is essential to identifying the change that occurred.
2
Define the meaning of 'Federation' in the context of January 1, 1901.
Federation was the process where these six colonies decided to join together to form one nation.
This establishes the core intent of the historical event.
3
Determine the constitutional outcome for the individual colonies.
Upon uniting, the colonies did not disappear; they became 'states' of the new Commonwealth of Australia.
This identifies the specific status change from colony to state.
4
Evaluate the division of power in the new Commonwealth.
Australia adopted a federal system where the states kept their own parliaments but handed over responsibility for national matters (like defense and immigration) to the Federal Parliament.
This confirms why the description of a federal system with shared powers is the only accurate choice.

Key Concept

The transition from six separate colonies to a single federal nation with shared powers.

Hints

1
Think about whether Australia today has both state governments (like in NSW or WA) and a federal government.
2
Federation was about 'unity,' but the colonies were protective of their own rights. Did they want to disappear completely, or just work together on big issues?

Practice More

Research the role of Edmund Barton and the location of the first Federal Parliament meeting in 1901 to deepen your understanding of the early Commonwealth.
Estimated Time:3m 0s
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Topics

Federation of 1901 and the Commonwealth

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