Social Impact On Australia's Economy

World War 1 was a war fought from 1914 to 1918, it was also known as the ‘Great War’. It was fought principally in Europe and the Middle East. It was fought between the Triple Alliance, which consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy and the Triple Entente, which consisted of Russia, France and the British Empire. World War 1 had major impacts on Australia, but the most obvious would be the economic impact, the social impact and the political impact. The war had great consequences on the Australian economy and the results of these consequences were varied. One of the first impacts on the Australian economy was the government’s cancellation of existing trade agreements with Germany and Austria-Hungary. World War 1 also had a great social

The war also had a substantial impact on Australian politics, the war saw governments take on unaccustomed and different powers over features of the citizens lives. This discussion will take in to consideration the major impacts that World War 1 had economically, socially and politically.

World War 1 had a major impact on economy in Australia. In the onset of war the government revoked trade agreements with Germany and Austria-Hungary. Because of this various industries in Australia had taken up contracts that were beforehand filled by German competitors, firms started to make fortunes from the rising business. This gave industries in Australia

One major social impact that the war had on Australia was the impact on women. At the outbreak of war far fewer women than men participated in work outside the house, at the time women’s role was considered to be at home. But with the departure of about half a million men, most of who were apart of the workforce, women started to ‘temporarily’ replace men. Women’s contribution in the workforce took a major uprise as it raised from 24 per cent in 1914 to 37 per cent in 1918. But the increase was mostly in what was already considered women’s area of work such as clothing and footwear, food and printing increase. Although there was also an increase in clerical, shop assistant and teaching. Workplaces were not willing to let women join them in typical male areas of work as they thought it would lower the wages. Many women wanted to become involved in more war related activities and work places such as cooks, stretcher bearers, motor car drivers, interpreters and munitions workers, but the government did not allow this participation. Another major social effect on Australia was the introduction of ‘the enemy within’. The enemy within was used to describe residents in Australia who were born in foreign countries. These people were now considered the enemy in Australia. A census in 1911 showed that at the time there were 33,381 German born citizens, mainly in South Australia and Queensland. These people were made to