Subject-specific learning materials (Part 1)
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Worksheet 1: Push and Pull Factors
Access your resources centre to find information about China in
the mid to late 1800’s.
Make a list of the living conditions suffered by the people of
China at this time and their causes. These are your push factors.
Brainstorm reasons why these people might want to come to Australia,
in particular. These are your pull factors.
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Worksheet 2: The Cultural Divide
In small group, fill in the following Venn diagram to demonstrate
those aspects of life (cultural/economic/social/political) that
the Chinese and the Australian diggers shared, (Nb: These should
be listed where the ovals intersect).
Then, list those aspects of life in which they differed, (Nb: list
these in their respective ovals).
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Worksheet 3: Timeline Activity
Go to the website Racism
No Way and access their timeline of the history of racism in
Australia. Extract all entries related to the Chinese in Australia.
In the space provided below, construct your own timeline of the
‘History of the Chinese in Australia’.
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Worksheet 4: Anti-Chinese Media
Source 1
“I would protest against the introduction of them from their
having low mental and bodily powers and half savage habits, utterly
unfit for assimilating with a nation of such a boosted degree
of civilization as our own. And I would ask, will the idol-mongers
promote our Christianity? Will the almond-eyed yellow-skins improve
our race? Will the habits of viciousness of the Celestial Empire
advance Australia? Not very likely…”
The Armidale Express, 1857
Source 2
“The people of Australia have declared emphatically that
they will be a nation of white men. White in skin pigment and
white as to standards of life.”
The Bulletin, 4 July 1907 The Bulletin, 1886 Boomerang,
14 July 1888
Focus Questions:
- What were the reasons given or implied by the media in support
of banning Chinese immigration?
- Was there any substance to these allegations?
- What did the various newspapers have to gain by persecuting
the Chinese?
- How could/does the media influence public opinion?
- Should the media be held accountable for the images it creates?
How?
Source 3
Source 4
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Worksheet 5: Create a Model of the Goldfield
Individually collect all the information you can about life on
the goldfield. Include information about:
- Accommodation
- Food and water supplies
- Laundry and cleaning
- Toileting
- Medical assistance
- Clothing
- Pets
- Entertainment
- Security
- Claim markers
- Topography
In this activity, you can choose whether you would prefer to present
the information you have collected as:
(a) a 300-500 word written description
(b) a 3 minute multimedia presentation
(c) a 3D model (plasticine, plaster of paris, etc)
(d) a drawing/painting on posterboard
(e) a 3-4 minute song/ballad that you must perform
Display, read or present your interpretation to your peers explaining
each of the features of your work.
(Nb: These works will be evaluated and revised after your excursion
to Mount Morgan).
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Worksheet 6: Video – “Mandarins of the New Golden Mountain”
(available from the John Oxley Library)
Questions:
- What brought the Chinese to Australia in the first place?
- Describe how the poor Chinese were able to pay for passage
to Australia.
- Describe the sea voyage.
- What happened when they arrived?
- How did the first Chinese migrants arrive?
- What was the original ‘Golden Mountain’?
- What were La Trobe’s concerns about the Gold Rush in Victoria?
- At Forest creek, there were __________ people living on 4 square
kilometres.
- What was the economic cost of the Gold Rush?
- Who instigated a Royal Commission to find out about the conditions
under which the Chinese diggers were transported to Australia?
- What was the British Passenger Act? Did it have much effect?
- What did the Chinese experience on arrival in Australia?
- Were the Chinese on the Gold Field really uncivilized? Why
did the Australian diggers think so?
- How did the media view the Chinese on the Goldfield? What evidence
does the video show of this?
- What did the Chinese do to incur such hatred from the Australian
diggers?
- In your opinion, was this hatred justified? Explain.
- How did the Inquiry into the Eureka Stockade institutionalize
discrimination in the Australian colonies?
- Why was the Australian Natives Association formed?
- What contributions have the Chinese made to the culture and
economy of Australia?
- List the legislation that was created by various Australian
governments that legitimized and institutionalized racism in this
country.
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