Conscription Sources

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Source 1

Notes summarising the source:

This is a cartoon which represents Australia as a man who is looking up at a noose, which is a metaphor for the referendum and the outcomes of it. The tree on which the noose is tied on has the words “CONSCRIPTION” written on it, and a sign asking “YES OR NO?” as answers to the conscription, which is the tree. This cartoon aims to persuade readers that if the referendum succeeds, then Australia will be harming itself, and that the only obvious answer is no. This is not a very objective source and leans heavily towards the rejection of conscription.

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Source 2

Notes summarising the source:

This is a propaganda film created by the Labour party (specifically the pro-conscription side) which identifies Billy Hughes ideas and hopes for Australia to be the abolishment of German trade, most likely to promote the Great War. This is used to persuade, and similarly to the source before, is not very objective and in turn is a very biased source.

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Source 3

Notes summarising the source:

This is a research guide created by the State Library of Victoria, and provides an overview of Conscription in Australia during the first World War. Due to this being a retrospective summary of past events, this is a fairly even and bias-free source, and seems to have a primary goal of educating readers on past events.

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Source 4

Notes summarising the source:

This is a research paper created by the International Encyclopedia of the First World War, and provides much deeper analysis and insight into WW1, and specifically conscription in Australia during WW1. It is also a retrospective paper, written by an objective narrator, and provides relatively sound and stable information. The main purpose of this paper is to educate, much like other encyclopaedia entries.