| Response Votes % | No 1,160,033 51.61% | Valid votes 2,247,590 97.36% | Invalid or blank votes 61,013 2.64% | Total votes 2,308,603 100.00% |
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How did the conscription debate divide Australia?
The conscription debate divided Australian's to the extent that Australian's became unsure and were practically halved on the issue of conscription during the 1916 and 1917 referendums .
How did conscription affect Australia in ww1?
At the outbreak of the First World War, the number of people volunteering to enlist for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was so high that recruitment officers were forced to turn people away. As the war went on, casualty rates increased and the number of volunteers declined .
What happened with conscription in ww1?
Conscription Prevails
The required legislation, the Military Service Act, worked its way through Parliament during the summer to be passed in late August . It made all male citizens between the ages of 20 and 45 subject to military service, if called, for the duration of the war.
When was the first conscription referendum Australia?
Australian voters were asked in October 1916, and again in December 1917, to vote on the issue of conscription. Universal military training for Australian men aged 18 to 60 had been compulsory since 1911. The referendums, if carried, would have extended this requirement to service overseas.
Why was conscription a bad thing?
One downside of conscription is that the time in the military can be quite hard . For many people, it is the first time away from home for a longer period of time and they might not be mentally prepared for this. Some people may feel quite lonely and may also not be able to deal with the strict rules in the military.
Is conscription still legal?
However, conscription remains in place on a contingency basis and all male U.S. citizens, regardless of where they live, and male immigrants, whether documented or undocumented, residing within the United States, who are 18 through 25 are required to register with the Selective Service System.
Can you refuse conscription?
A conscientious objector is an “individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service” on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion. In some countries, conscientious objectors are assigned to an alternative civilian service as a substitute for conscription or military service.
Why did Australia introduce conscription 1917?
The conscription issue in Australia
Prime Minister Billy Hughes made two attempts to introduce conscription: two conscription referenda were held in 1916 and 1917. Both lost to the ‘no' vote. ... Unions tended to be anti-conscription, because they feared their jobs would be taken by foreign labour or women.
What were the reasons for conscription?
Conscription merely serves to have convenient cannon fodder for imminent war . Governments should instead work on cutting military spending and provide their citizens with basic necessities such as healthcare, housing and food. Such is the benefit of the so-called ‘peace dividend. ‘
Was conscription good or bad for Canada?
It also helped win the First World War. Conscription was Canada's most divisive issue during the Great War. Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden believed wholeheartedly in the cause, and in a 1916 New Year's message, he told Canadians that he had authorized a force of 500,000. ...
Why did Canada join ww1?
The British declaration of war automatically brought Canada into the war, because of Canada's legal status as a British Dominion which left foreign policy decisions in the hands of the British parliament . ... On August 4, 1914, the Governor General declared a war between Canada and Germany.
Did Canada have conscription?
There is at present no conscription in Canada . Conscription was implemented in Canada during the First and Second World Wars for men of military age and fitness.
Did Australia ever have conscription?
As noted, conscription was abolished by law in 1973 . But the Defence Act 1903 as amended retained a provision that it could be reintroduced by proclamation of the Governor-General. Potentially all Australian residents between the ages of 18 and 60 could be called up in this way.
When was the second conscription referendum in Australia?
A referendum to determine public support for conscription was held in October 1916 where it failed by a slim margin; a second took place in December 1917 and again most Australians voted against it.
How did the Treaty of Versailles affect Australia?
The primary significance of the Treaty of Versailles was to establish the conditions of peace ending World War I, but Australia's role as a signatory and full member of the League of Nations marked the first step to recognition of the full national status of the Commonwealth of Australia.
