GLOSSARY
Colony -a country or region that was administered by the government of another country. Officials and many inhabitants often came from the mother country which exploited the colony for its own benefit.
Constitution-the written laws under which a government or organisation operates.
Dictation Test -a test in a European language given by colonial governments to immigrants. This was designed to exclude non-Europeans. Since Asians could not speak every European language they could be made to fail the test. The Federal Government continued to use this tactic for many years after federation.
Federal Council -Council of colonial governments, formed in 1885 to discuss and arrange matters of joint interest. NSW did not join and South Australia only joined in 1888.
Free Trade-trade carried out without customs or excise duties.
Free Traders -those in politics who supported free trade.
Nationalism -belief that loyalty to a person's nation and its political and economic goals comes first.
Plebiscite -a referendum or direct vote on one issue by the population of a country or a region.
Primary Sources -pieces of historical evidence dating from the time to which they refer.
Protection -placing a duty or tariff on imported goods to make them more expensive. Consumers were then encouraged to buy locally manufactured goods.
Protectionists -those in politics who favoured protecting local industry through the application of import duties on imported goods.
Referendum -political decision arrived at by the people voting directly on an issue or question.
Secondary Sources -pieces of historical evidence produced after the time to which they refer.
Tariff -a tax placed on imports into a country. This makes it more expensive to export goods into that country so prices of these goods are less competitive against home produced goods.
White Australia Policy -a government policy designed to exclude non-European migration into Australia. This policy had its origins in the opposition by white Australians to the used of coloured labour in the colonies. Whites opposed the entry of Indian coolies in the 1840s, Chinese on the goldfields in the 1850s, and the use of Kanakas in Queensland in the 1880s and 1890s. Colonial governments excluded non-Europeans through the use of the dictation test. This policy was continued for many years by the Federal Government after federation.
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