The Eureka Stockade
"It was a revolution - small in size, but great politically; it was a strike against injustice and oppression...It is another instance of a victory won by a lost battle. It adds an honourable page to history; the people know it and are proud of it. They keep green the memory of the men who fell at the Eureka Stockade." Mark Twain, 1897
The Eureka Stockade, otherwise known as the Eureka Rebellion, was a short lived battle during 1854, in which a few hundred disgruntled miners revolted against the petty and mostly corrupt officialdom. Conditions on the gold fields, unfair laws, racism, anti-British attitudes and the miner’s license, played a huge part in causing the Eureka Rebellion to take place. The miners’ eventually grew tired of the unfair laws and living conditions, so they built the Eureka Stockade and gathered firearms, in an attempt to fight for their rights and liberties. During the early morning of December 3rd 1854, the authorities launched an attack on the stockade. The miners’ fought back fervently, but their basic weapons and determination was no match for the military’s vast numbers and fierce weaponry. Even though the revolt itself was a military failure, the miners’ rebellion led to personal and political benefits for many Australians. The Eureka Stockade was a bloody but essential part of Australian history. It played a vital role in the development of democracy and personal identity within Australia.
The rebellion was caused by a number of issues within the gold fields. The miners were suffering from a number of injustices. They had no political rights; they were not allowed to vote in elections nor were they entitled to a representative in the Legislative Council, and they were treated unjustly by the blatantly brutal and corrupt government officials. However, their main grievance was the excessive and overpriced gold mining license, which cost thirty shillings each month to renew. Most of the miners’ found it nearly impossible to pay the
The Eureka Stockade, otherwise known as the Eureka Rebellion, was a short lived battle during 1854, in which a few hundred disgruntled miners revolted against the petty and mostly corrupt officialdom. Conditions on the gold fields, unfair laws, racism, anti-British attitudes and the miner’s license, played a huge part in causing the Eureka Rebellion to take place. The miners’ eventually grew tired of the unfair laws and living conditions, so they built the Eureka Stockade and gathered firearms, in an attempt to fight for their rights and liberties. During the early morning of December 3rd 1854, the authorities launched an attack on the stockade. The miners’ fought back fervently, but their basic weapons and determination was no match for the military’s vast numbers and fierce weaponry. Even though the revolt itself was a military failure, the miners’ rebellion led to personal and political benefits for many Australians. The Eureka Stockade was a bloody but essential part of Australian history. It played a vital role in the development of democracy and personal identity within Australia.
The rebellion was caused by a number of issues within the gold fields. The miners were suffering from a number of injustices. They had no political rights; they were not allowed to vote in elections nor were they entitled to a representative in the Legislative Council, and they were treated unjustly by the blatantly brutal and corrupt government officials. However, their main grievance was the excessive and overpriced gold mining license, which cost thirty shillings each month to renew. Most of the miners’ found it nearly impossible to pay the
Bibliography: http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/golden-victoria/impact-society/eureka-stockade http://www.convictcreations.com/history/eureka.htm