Federation

Australian citizenship test study notes, summarised from page 25 of Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, the official booklet the test is based on.

Before 1901 Australia was six separate, self-governing British colonies, each with its own laws on defence, immigration, postage, trade and transport.
Problems: expensive, slow trade and transport between colonies; hard to enforce law across borders; weak defence. A national identity was also forming (sport, songs, poems, art).
On 1 January 1901 the colonies united into a federation of states: the Commonwealth of Australia.

Our Common Bond, p. 25

Sample practice questions

Try these, then check your answer. They’re our practice questions, not the real test questions.

1. After British settlement and before 1901, what was Australia made up of?
1. Six separate, self-governing British colonies
2. Eight separate, self-governing British colonies
3. One British colony divided into six regions
Show answer
Answer: A. Six separate, self-governing British colonies
After British settlement and before 1901, Australia was made up of six separate, self-governing British colonies.
Our Common Bond, p. 25
2. Which was a sign that an Australian national identity was forming before Federation?
1. Sporting teams were representing Australia internationally
2. The colonies had already formed a single national army
3. The colonies had agreed to use the same constitution and laws
Show answer
Answer: A. Sporting teams were representing Australia internationally
Sporting teams were representing Australia internationally and an Australian culture was developing in songs, poems, stories and art.
Our Common Bond, p. 25
3. Before 1901, what was true about the defence of the separate colonies?
1. They shared one national army
2. They had weak systems of defence
3. They each had a strong, well-funded army
Show answer
Answer: B. They had weak systems of defence
Before 1901, the separate colonies had weak systems of defence. Trade and transport between them was also expensive and slow, and enforcing the law across borders was difficult.
Our Common Bond, p. 25

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All study notes on one page · About the citizenship test

Federation🎩

Sample practice questions

1. After British settlement and before 1901, what was Australia made up of?

2. Which was a sign that an Australian national identity was forming before Federation?

3. Before 1901, what was true about the defence of the separate colonies?

Federation