History Exam - WWII and Civil Rights Movements - Updated

Federal Aboriginal Land Rights Act – 1976

Gave Gurindji and other Indigenous groups legal title to their land; first official recognition of Aboriginal land ownership

Freedom Rides – 1965

Protest against segregation led by Charlie Perkins and mostly non-Indigenous students; targeted RSLs in Walgett and pool in Moree; lasted 15 days and received media coverage

Referendum

A public vote used to amend the Australian Constitution

When were First Nations people given the right to vote?

1962

1967 Referendum – May 27

Allowed Aboriginal people to be counted in the census and gave the federal government power to make laws for them; 90% voted “yes”

What did the 1967 referendum remove?

Section 127 – “Aboriginal natives shall not be counted” as people of the Commonwealth

What contributed to the “Yes” vote in 1967?

Media coverage, both political parties endorsed the ‘yes’ vote, 8000 - 10 000 Aboriginal people voted

Emmett Till

14-year-old boy murdered in Mississippi (1955) after being accused of flirting with a white woman; open-casket funeral showed brutality; killers found not guilty but later admitted guilt; became a civil rights symbol

Bus Boycott

Started after Rosa Parks' arrest in 1955; Black Americans in Montgomery refused to ride buses; ended in 1956 after Supreme Court ruled segregation on buses illegal

Brown vs Board of Education

1954 U.S. Supreme Court case that declared segregation in American schools illegal

Little Rock Nine

In 1957

Ku Klux Klan

White Protestant group known for hate crimes against people of colour

US Freedom Riders

In 1961

Terra Nullius

Legal term meaning “land belonging to no one”; used by British to justify colonisation of Australia starting in 1770

Frontier Wars – Van Diemen’s Land

Violent colonisation of Tasmania; Aboriginal population reduced from ~7000 to 203 by 1832; many moved to Flinders Island

Aboriginal Protection Boards

State-run boards established before 1901; removed Aboriginal children to assimilate them; key force behind the Stolen Generations

Situation at Federation

In 1901

Segregation in Australia

Separation of Indigenous Australians from white Australians; included separate facilities and limited rights

Stolen Generations

From late 1800s to 1970s

Cummeragunja Walk-off

On 4 Feb 1939

Day of Mourning – 1938

Protest on 26 Jan 1938 (Australia Day) against colonisation and Aboriginal mistreatment; involved leaders like Jack Patten and William Cooper

Jack Patten

Yorta Yorta activist; spoke at 1938 Day of Mourning; created “Abo Call”; had 6 children taken by Protection Board

Eddie Gilbert

Aboriginal cricketer who needed permission to play due to racial policies

Albert Namatjira

Famous Aboriginal artist; became one of the first Aboriginal citizens in 1957 along with his wife

Sir Doug Nicholls

Yorta Yorta man and Fitzroy VFL player; civil rights campaigner; first Aboriginal person to receive a knighthood

Wave Hill Walk-off – 1966

Vincent Lingiari led strike for equal pay by Gurindji workers against Vestey company; major event in Aboriginal land rights movement

What triggered WWII on 1 September 1939

Germany’s invasion of Poland due to Hitler’s expansionist ambitions

What were the consequences of Germany invading Poland

It started WWII and marked the beginning of the Holocaust

What caused France to sign a peace agreement with Germany on 25 June 1940

Germany’s victory in the Battle of France and the collapse of the French army

What was the outcome of France signing peace with Germany

Germany gained control of northern France

What was Germany’s aim in the Battle of Britain (July–October 1940)

To destroy the RAF in preparation for an invasion (Operation Sea Lion)

What were the results of the Battle of Britain

RAF survived; it was Germany's first major defeat and led to the Blitz

Why was Tobruk important in 1941

It was crucial for Allied supply lines and defense of the Suez Canal

What happened during the Siege of Tobruk

Axis forces were delayed; Australians were nicknamed “Rats of Tobruk”

What caused Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941

Germany broke the peace treaty and invaded the USSR

What were the consequences of Operation Barbarossa

Initial success; later failure due to Soviet resistance and harsh winter; USSR suffered most losses in WWII

Why did Japan bomb Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941

In response to US oil embargo and conflict over Asia-Pacific dominance

What was the result of the bombing of Pearl Harbour

US entered the war; Japan expanded temporarily but was eventually defeated

What led to the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942

Japan’s underestimated power and successful invasions in Asia

What were the effects of the Fall of Singapore

Allied loss; prompted Japan to bomb Darwin

Why did Japan bomb Darwin on 19 February 1942

To weaken Allied morale and disrupt US support

What were the effects of the Bombing of Darwin

Over 200 deaths; Australian government downplayed the damage

What caused the Battle of the Coral Sea (4–8 May 1942)

Japan’s plan to capture Port Moresby

What was the result of the Battle of the Coral Sea

Japan was stopped; fleet weakened ahead of Midway

Why did the Battle of Midway (4–7 June 1942) happen

Japan wanted to use Midway as a base to attack Pearl Harbour again

What was the impact of the Battle of Midway

US gained the upper hand; ended Japanese dominance

What triggered the Kokoda Campaign & Battle of Milne Bay

Japan's continued effort to invade Port Moresby via land

What was the result of the Kokoda and Milne Bay battles

Allied victory; stopped potential invasion of mainland Australia

What caused the Cowra Breakout on 4 August 1942

Japanese POWs tried to escape to avoid the shame of captivity

What happened during the Cowra Breakout

235 deaths (4 Australians); all escapees recaptured

What triggered the Battle of Brisbane on 26 November 1942

Tensions between US and Australian troops over access to goods and leave

What happened during the Battle of Brisbane

One person died; hundreds injured; tensions eased afterwards

What caused the Holocaust

Hitler’s antisemitic ideology and Nazi racial policies

What were the consequences of the Holocaust

Systematic murder of 6 million Jews; lasting global impact

Why did the US drop atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945

To force Japan’s surrender and avoid a land invasion

What was the result of the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Massive destruction; Japan surrendered; WWII ended