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Difficulty: EasyEarly 20th Century Population

In 1901, the year of Federation, the population of the new Commonwealth of Australia was recorded as approximately 4 million people. From which primary region did the vast majority of these residents originate?

  1. Great Britain and IrelandAnswer
  2. B
    Southern and Eastern Europe
  3. C
    Asia and the Middle East

Answer

Great Britain and Ireland
The correct answer is Great Britain and Ireland because historical records from 1901 show that the overwhelming majority of the non-Indigenous population in the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia had ancestors from these islands.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical context
The question refers to the year 1901 (Federation) and the population of 4 million.
Establishing the time period helps narrow down which migration waves had already occurred.
2
Analyze the demographic makeup of that era
In the early 20th century, Australia's population was largely homogenous, consisting mostly of people from the United Kingdom.
This identifies the correct regional origin of the majority of the population.
3
Differentiate from later migration waves
Migration from other European regions and Asia became more prominent in the mid-to-late 20th century.
This confirms why the other options are incorrect for the year 1901.

Key Concept

Early 20th-century Australian demographics were dominated by British and Irish heritage.

Hints

1
Think about which country established the original colonies in Australia.
2
In 1901, Australia maintained very close cultural and political ties with the United Kingdom.

Practice More

Review how migration patterns changed after the Second World War to understand the transition to modern diversity.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Early 20th Century Population

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