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Difficulty: MediumCreation and Federation (1901)

In the years leading up to 19011901, the people of the six British colonies in Australia voted in referendums to decide whether they should unite as one nation. After the British Parliament passed the necessary law, the Australian Constitution came into effect on 11 January 19011901. Which of the following best describes the political change that occurred in Australia on that date?

  1. The six separate colonies united to form a single nation called the Commonwealth of Australia, with the colonies becoming states.Answer
  2. B
    The colonies were dissolved and replaced by a single national government that was controlled directly by the British Parliament in London.
  3. C
    The colonies remained separate nations but signed a treaty to share a single military while keeping their own individual constitutions.

Answer

The six colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia, and the colonies became states within that new nation.
On 11 January 19011901, the six separate British colonies officially united to form a single nation. Under the new Australian Constitution, this nation was called the Commonwealth of Australia. A key part of this arrangement was that the previous colonies did not disappear; they became the six states that make up the federal nation today.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical context of the year 19011901 in Australia.
Recognize 11 January 19011901 as the date the Australian Constitution took effect.
Establishing the correct timeframe is essential for understanding the transition from colonies to a nation.
2
Analyze the term 'Federation' and its outcome.
Recall that the six colonies (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania) agreed to unite.
The core concept of Federation is the union of separate entities into a single federal system.
3
Determine the new status of the colonies and the name of the new nation.
The new nation was named the Commonwealth of Australia, and the former colonies were redefined as states.
This specific terminology distinguishes the pre-1901 colonial status from the post-1901 federal status.

Key Concept

The creation of the Commonwealth of Australia through the process of Federation (1901).

Hints

1
Think about the name we use today for the whole of Australia: the 'Commonwealth of Australia'.
2
Federation was about 'uniting' the six separate colonies into one group. What did those colonies become after they joined?
3
The date 11 January 19011901 marks the day Australia stopped being six separate colonies and became one united nation with states.

Practice More

Review the differences between Federal and State government responsibilities that were established by the Constitution in 1901.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Creation and Federation (1901)

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