Conscription
World War 1 was one of the first major global conflicts. The war began on the 28th of July 1914 and ended on the 11th of November 1918. The First World War was a milestone in the history of our world and was a horrific term of events. During the time of World War 1 Billy Hughes, the Prime Minister of Australia called a referendum on conscription, a process where men around Australia would be forced to attend war at random. This was due to the limited numbers of men fighting in war, however, many people had different arguments for the process and conscription began to have many effects on men during and after the war. This left everyone questioning if conscription should have been enforced at war and what extent did it affect …show more content…
When the First World War began Australia and Britain were allies, British newspapers published appeals for young men to join colours, and to fight against Germany. Many men took on the challenge for a sense of adventure and making their country proud. As time went on Toby Thacker states that, ‘Over the next few weeks, thousands of young men came forward. When the first grim news of casualties and of the retreat from Mons arrived in late August, more volunteered, and after the fall of Antwerp in early October, there was a renewed surge. On some days, more than 10,000 men enlisted.’ In the end, the number of people volunteering to enlist for the Australian Imperial Force was so high that recruitment officers were forced to turn people away. However, as war went on, the amount of casualties increased and volunteers decreased so by 1916 the Australian Imperial force began to run out of soldiers. This is when Prime Minister Billy Hughes, began to take action. Australia War Memorial explains Mr Hughes idea, ‘Despite opposition from his own party, Labor Prime Minister Billy Hughes decided to take the issue to the people in a referendum. The nation was asked to grant the government the power to compel citizens to serve overseas during the current war.’ However this lead to a furious debate between the people of
World War 1 was one of the first major global conflicts. The war began on the 28th of July 1914 and ended on the 11th of November 1918. The First World War was a milestone in the history of our world and was a horrific term of events. During the time of World War 1 Billy Hughes, the Prime Minister of Australia called a referendum on conscription, a process where men around Australia would be forced to attend war at random. This was due to the limited numbers of men fighting in war, however, many people had different arguments for the process and conscription began to have many effects on men during and after the war. This left everyone questioning if conscription should have been enforced at war and what extent did it affect …show more content…
When the First World War began Australia and Britain were allies, British newspapers published appeals for young men to join colours, and to fight against Germany. Many men took on the challenge for a sense of adventure and making their country proud. As time went on Toby Thacker states that, ‘Over the next few weeks, thousands of young men came forward. When the first grim news of casualties and of the retreat from Mons arrived in late August, more volunteered, and after the fall of Antwerp in early October, there was a renewed surge. On some days, more than 10,000 men enlisted.’ In the end, the number of people volunteering to enlist for the Australian Imperial Force was so high that recruitment officers were forced to turn people away. However, as war went on, the amount of casualties increased and volunteers decreased so by 1916 the Australian Imperial force began to run out of soldiers. This is when Prime Minister Billy Hughes, began to take action. Australia War Memorial explains Mr Hughes idea, ‘Despite opposition from his own party, Labor Prime Minister Billy Hughes decided to take the issue to the people in a referendum. The nation was asked to grant the government the power to compel citizens to serve overseas during the current war.’ However this lead to a furious debate between the people of