It was only in 1901 that Australia had federated, a new nation, a new economy, a new political system governing the entire country. Australia at this time were still very loyal to their mother country (Britain) although they had their own country to deal with now. It was Britain's side of the world that was involved in this war and it wasn't long before the almighty empire tried to intervene and of course the inevitable occurred and they got up to their necks involved in the Great War. Australians had incredible connections of loyalty and patriotism when it came to Britain and it was at this time that the William Hughes said "Australia is part of the empire to the full, when the empire is at war so is Australia at war." And this was the beginning of Australia's involvement in WWI.

The number of young men enlisting was phenomenal and there were just as many reasons a quest for man hood, money in the pocket, loyalty to

C.E.W.Bean, The Story of Anzac, official history of Australia in War of 1914-18, vol 1,

the queen and some purely out of boredom. But it was these men that were to shape the Australian identity for years to come.

Even Hughes' own labour party was against conscription. Hughes was so set in his ways that he put it to a referendum anyway. It was a landslide victory against conscription. After this episode of pig-headedness from Hughes the labour party had him over thrown as leader. Even after being turfed out of his own labour party Hughes continued to battle out the idea, He formed a new party of his very few followers called the National party. Once again Hughes put the idea to a referendum and for the second time he lost this vote dramatically. Finally he gave up.

Although a lot was going on at home it was the soldiers over seas at war that were to change the Australian identity forever. Through war campaigns such as Gallipoli legends were created of the men who fought in these battles that were to be retold to their grandkids' grandkids and start a tradition of mettle and mirth and the undeniable legend of the ANZAC soldiers, 'The great Aussie battlers.' This was the identity

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Approximate Word count = 801
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)