3.1 Introduction

During the war there was a lot of pressure on people on the home front in Australia. The cost of living rose, unemployment increased, there were constant appeals for volunteers and for donations of money for various war charities. Some people suffered the death of family members in the war.

One of the issues raised during the war was conscription — should single young men who had not volunteered be forced to enlist and be sent overseas to fight?

There were two great conscription debates: in October of 1916 and then again in December 1917. The question was voted on at two plebiscites (public opinion votes), although they are often referred to as referendums. When a matter is put to the people to vote on in this way there is campaigning and arguing. This can be very divisive, especially when the issue is about life and death.

In this investigation you will explore why the conscription debates took place and how different people in the Australian community felt about conscription.