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Difficulty: MediumPost-World War II Migration Programs

In the years following the end of World War II, the Australian government adopted the slogan 'populate or perish'. Why did the government believe it was vital to rapidly increase the nation's population at this time?

  1. To build a larger workforce for economic development and to strengthen national defense.Answer
  2. B
    To ensure the population remained small so that natural resources would not be overused.
  3. C
    To return the administration of the country to separate British colonies as it was before 1901.

Answer

The primary motivation was to build a larger workforce for economic development and to strengthen national defense.
The correct answer is correct because the 'populate or perish' policy was a direct response to the vulnerabilities exposed during World War II. The government recognized that Australia needed a much larger population to support industrial expansion, build major infrastructure projects, and ensure the country could defend itself in the future.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical context of the 'populate or perish' slogan.
The slogan was used after World War II to justify large-scale migration.
Understanding the timing (post-1945) is essential to identifying the government's priorities.
2
Analyze the two main needs of Australia during this period.
Australia needed more people to work in new industries and more residents to help defend the vast continent.
The war had shown that a small population made the country vulnerable and limited its industrial capacity.
3
Evaluate the options against these identified needs.
The option focusing on the workforce and national defense matches the historical record.
This aligns with the official reasoning provided by the Australian government for the 1945 migration programs.

Key Concept

The 'Populate or Perish' policy and its role in post-WWII nation-building.

Hints

1
Consider what the word 'perish' (meaning to die or be destroyed) suggests about the government's fears after the war.
2
Think about why a country would need many more people to help it grow its factories and protect its borders.

Practice More

Research the Snowy Mountains Scheme to see how these migrants physically helped build Australia's infrastructure.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Post-World War II Migration Programs

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