DP1- Frontier Wars AOS1 Aus History

Quotes/questions

‘the first place where white man’s justice does some good’ (Uncle Lyall Munro)

Myall Creek massacre - first example in Australia history where First Nations people had legal rights. Settlers brutally killed the Indigenous Australians without any reason; the women were raped and abused by convicts, resulting in Indigenous resistance. 28 natives were slaughtered. However the difference was that this instance of violence was reported by William Foster, it was investigated by magistrate Edward Day, and 11 men were arrested.

‘legally unoccupied’ (Pratt et al)

Terra nullius was the idea the settlers used to justify the dispossession of land of the First Nations people.

‘the warfare they engaged in created fear and anxiety among settlers’ (Henry Reynolds)

This implies that the Indigenous Australians’ resistance was effective.

‘aboriginal resistance to the intrusion of settlers into their country was widespread and persistent.’ (Henry Reynolds)

Aboriginal resistance

‘the resistance was put down everywhere sooner or later, often with great brutality and loss of life.’ (Henry Reynolds)

Impact of aboriginal resistance

‘We found the Aboriginals about us docile, tractible, and highly intelligent’ (George McCrae)

Not everyone viewed the Aboriginal people as savages, however despite no bloodshed, they’re still merely viewed as servants and nothing more; all interactions are underpinned by servitude. They’re not seen as human still regardless of whether the observer was from a violent or peaceful standpoint.

What was the Myall Creek Massacre?

The rape, abuse of native women and subsequent killing of 28 First Nations people by the settlers. It was the first instance in Australian history where Indigenous people had legal rights—the 11 perpetrators (white men) were arrested and convicted.

Give some quotes for Aboriginal resistance.

‘the warfare they engaged in created fear and anxiety among settlers’ (Henry Reynolds) —implies that their resistance was effective.

‘aboriginal resistance to the intrusion of settlers into their country was widespread and persistent.’ (Henry Reynolds)

‘It was one of the most enduring features of the nation’s history’ (Henry Reynolds)

What forms of aboriginal resistance did first nations people do?

Peaceful and violent resistance.

Peaceful means included assimilation of indigenous people into British lifestyles and culture, including drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, and eating sugar. Aboriginal Australians adapted to coexist with settlers out of necessity.

Violent means include economic warfare (stealing and killing sheep, cattle, burning crops). They also fought and killed settlers.

How did First Nations people respond to the dispossession of their land.

Through violent and peaceful resistance—they killed settlers with the advantage of their ‘superior bushcraft’ (Pratt et al), started economic warfare, but also adapted to coexist with settlers out of necessity.