How Did World War II Influence Changes In The Australian Home Front?
World War II did indeed influence changes in the Australian home front; some long term and others short term. The evident threat of invasion by the Japanese forced the Australian government to turn to their American allies, forging new foreign policies and a sense of ‘Americanisation’ of Australian cultural. Minority groups including women and Indigenous Australians also experienced changes pushing for equality.
Amidst the pinnacle of World War II, forsaken by her mother country, Australia felt vulnerable to the emerging threat of the Japanese in the Pacific; so in turn, then Australian Prime Minster John Curtin called upon the United States allies for support. This new allegiance came as a shock for many older Australian citizens who still …show more content…
It was hoped that there would be both economic and diplomatic advantages if Australia could be involved during future peace treaty negotiations. After World War II, Britain reasserted some of its lost dominance in the south-west Pacific. However, British power was clearly declining as the American alliance that was forged in the dark days of 1942 has remained of central importance to Australia to this present …show more content…
Australian women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers as men left their occupations to serve in the war, and many new defined ‘masculine’ occupations suddenly became open to women. Women were recruited into jobs, including: manufacturing weapons and ammunition, building trucks, tanks and airplanes and operating tractors and other large engines (Roles for women in WWII, 2014). Women also stepped up into agricultural jobs; with many women volunteering for a force called the Australian Women’s Land Army that was established in 1942, that proved to be very useful in the war effort and essential in keeping up the food supply in Australia. The aim of this body was to replace male farm workers involved in military work, with female workers, most of whom were unskilled in farm work. Each branch of the armed services also formed their own auxiliary corps for women. Over 66,000 women enlisted in a branch of the women’s services during the war, just fewer than 7% of the nearly one million Australians who served. These services placed women into existing military services, to allow male personnel to serve overseas. They worked on observation posts and as anti-aircraft gunners, drivers, mechanics, and radio operators; however, most were still tasked to work in traditional female roles such as, cooks and mess stewardesses (Women's auxiliary services,
Amidst the pinnacle of World War II, forsaken by her mother country, Australia felt vulnerable to the emerging threat of the Japanese in the Pacific; so in turn, then Australian Prime Minster John Curtin called upon the United States allies for support. This new allegiance came as a shock for many older Australian citizens who still …show more content…
It was hoped that there would be both economic and diplomatic advantages if Australia could be involved during future peace treaty negotiations. After World War II, Britain reasserted some of its lost dominance in the south-west Pacific. However, British power was clearly declining as the American alliance that was forged in the dark days of 1942 has remained of central importance to Australia to this present …show more content…
Australian women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers as men left their occupations to serve in the war, and many new defined ‘masculine’ occupations suddenly became open to women. Women were recruited into jobs, including: manufacturing weapons and ammunition, building trucks, tanks and airplanes and operating tractors and other large engines (Roles for women in WWII, 2014). Women also stepped up into agricultural jobs; with many women volunteering for a force called the Australian Women’s Land Army that was established in 1942, that proved to be very useful in the war effort and essential in keeping up the food supply in Australia. The aim of this body was to replace male farm workers involved in military work, with female workers, most of whom were unskilled in farm work. Each branch of the armed services also formed their own auxiliary corps for women. Over 66,000 women enlisted in a branch of the women’s services during the war, just fewer than 7% of the nearly one million Australians who served. These services placed women into existing military services, to allow male personnel to serve overseas. They worked on observation posts and as anti-aircraft gunners, drivers, mechanics, and radio operators; however, most were still tasked to work in traditional female roles such as, cooks and mess stewardesses (Women's auxiliary services,