MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS

Arts Undergraduate Handbook 1996

Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996

HSY2340

Australia and the British Empire, 1852-1992

Bruce Knox

Synopsis The Australian colonies became self-governing in 1855, with responsibility for policies on, for instance, race, tariffs and land use. A version of parliamentary monarchy was introduced, adapting to local circumstances - including `democracy' - in succeeding years. These political and constitutional developments, and the gradual withdrawal of the authority of the metropolitan State, took place in the broad context of the British Empire. The Australian federal Constitution was also formed in that context. War and other twentieth-century imperial and international exigencies largely shaped the emergence of an independent Australian dominion. The subject examines this process and considers the significance of constitutional crises and questions which have arisen since 1945.

Assessment Two essays (1500 and 2500 words): 60% + Examination (2 hours): 40%

Prescribed texts

• Lloyd T O The British Empire, 1558-1983 OUP, 1984
• McMinn W G A constitutional history of Australia OUP, 1979
• Porter B The lion's share: A short history of British Imperialism, 1850-1970 1975

Recommended texts

• Fieldhouse D K The colonial empires: A comparative study from the 18th century to the present Wiedenfeld and Nicolson, 1966
• Hirst J B The strange birth of colonial democracy Allen and Unwin, 1988
• Hudson W J and Sharp M P Australian independence: Colony to reluctant kingdom 1988
• James L The rise and fall of the British Empire Little Brown, 1994
• Ward J M Colonial self-government: The British experience Macmillan, 1976