Australia in the 20th Century

• • Federation
  • Demographic change
  • First World War
  • Depression
  • Second World War
  • The marriage and baby boom
  • 1950s 'Golden Age'
  • Reconstruction
  • Menzies
  • Whitlam
  • Sexual revolution
  • Migration
  • Multiculturalism
  • Refugee crisis

Others

130cp at 1000 level or above or (20cp in HIST or MHIS or POL units at 2000 level including 10cp in HIST or MHIS units)

Special requirements

• OtherDetails -

  Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.

Australia in the 20th century presents a political, social, economic and cultural history of Australia across the twentieth century into the present. Building on the introduction to Australian history, the Anzac myth and nineteenth century experience explored in earlier units, Australia in the 20th century outlines the development of post-Federation 'White Australia', through to the impact of migration, multiculturalism and the refugee crisis into the 21st century. We explore the foundations of Australian national identity and analyse the manifest social changes that redefined understandings of gender, sexuality, rights and race. We will feature the central developments of the century, from the divisive impact of the First World War to economic depression, and the promise of reconstruction that grew out of another disastrous world war that also reshaped Australia's relations with the world. We will trace the everyday experiences of Australians through migration, economic change, suburbanisation, protest, and popular culture. Australia in the 20th century will be of particular interest to education students who are intending to teach Australian history in schools and provides a strong platform for 2000/3000 level Australian history units.

• Group presentation (15%)
• Research essay (40%)
• Class participation (15%)
• Best of OU Blog posts (30%)