Impact Of the Vietnam War on Australia Society

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Impact Of the Vietnam War on Australia Society by Mind Map: Impact Of the Vietnam War on Australia Society

1. Protest Groups

1.1. Anti-war protests has been going on since 1962

1.1.1. large and angry anti-war movement growing

1.1.1.1. Wives of soldiers who were deployed received angry phone calls and letters and anti-war literature was handed out.

1.2. ALP on the side of protestors

1.3. The government's plan to put soldiers into Vietnam was called "blood for dollars" or "diggers for dollars" by Trade union

1.3.1. By supporting America and risking the lives of Australians we would have a stable economy

1.3.2. Work Stoppages as an anti-war protest

1.4. the Protestant churches were divided over the issue of Vietnam

1.4.1. Even before Menzies sent troops a group of Anglican bishops asked him not to increase Australian involvement in Vietnam

1.4.2. The Methodist Church came out as strongly anti-war

1.5. No group more associated with Protests then Universities

1.5.1. Early years some supported and some were against the war

1.5.1.1. only after the start of conscription that students began to come out in force against the War.

2. Migrants

2.1. People of Vietnem, Laos and Combodia had lived through many years of war

2.1.1. Due to war indo-Chinese people needed a country to stay in

2.2. The Fall of Saigon

2.2.1. operation known as 'Baby Lift'

2.2.1.1. Taking orphans from country to America or Australia to live with families

2.3. The Boat People

2.3.1. attempts were made to evacuate as many people as possible out of the country from Australians and Americans

2.3.1.1. many were left behind

2.3.2. Needed a new way to escape the communist country

2.3.2.1. Flimsy crowded boats gave them the answer they were looking for

2.3.3. Problems

2.3.3.1. Months to arrive at destination

2.3.3.2. Pirates

2.3.3.3. Unseaworthy vessels, many capsized and were never heard from again

2.3.4. Most of the boats went to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong

2.3.4.1. Over 50 boats managed to make it all the way to Australia and 2000 people every month made it to claim asylum

2.3.4.2. Refugee Camps

2.3.4.2.1. overcrowded, unsanitary and unable to deal with the ever-growing numbers of people arriving

2.3.5. The Orderly Departure Program

3. Australia's relations with Asia

3.1. Illusion that Australia was part of Europe and not the Pacific

3.1.1. Whitlam said that Australian foreign policy would be Australian and not dependent on Britain or America

3.2. Gough Whitlam opened up a diplomatic relationship with The People's Republic of China in 1972

3.2.1. Within a year the Australian Embassy in China was reopened

3.3. New Trade link with South East Asia

3.3.1. Japan overtakes England as biggest export market.

3.3.1.1. In 1969-1970 25 percent of Australian exports went to Japan, as opposed to only 11.8 percent going to Britain.

3.3.2. trade agreements with South East Asian countries such as South Korea and Taiwan

3.4. abandonment of the 'White Australia' policy in the 1970s

3.4.1. Asian refugees

3.4.2. Tourist Visas to visit Australia

3.5. The post-War relationship with Vietnam

3.5.1. Australia disagreed with America and maintained relationships with communist Vietnam.

3.5.1.1. the Australian government sent aid to help with reconstruction

3.5.1.2. By the mid-1980s, however, good relations had once again been re-established.

4. How Australian society was altered by its involvement in the Vietnam war

4.1. Over 90 000 Indo-Chinese refugees came to Australia in the 10 years after the Vietnam War

4.1.1. By 1978 Australia was involved in the Orderly Departure Program from Vietnam

4.2. Australian culture would disappear was the belief of many Australians

4.3. 1967 referendum was that Aboriginal people could no longer be restricted in their movements or kept on 'reservations' in their State

4.3.1. Aborigines counted in the census

4.3.2. new policy of integration rather than assimilation

4.4. making a concerted effort to move towards multiculturalism

4.4.1. it became something to embrace not fear

4.4.2. Became a firm government policy

4.4.2.1. the end of the 'White Australia

4.4.3. Australia had become one of the most multicultural countries in the world

4.5. The role of women also changed during this time

4.5.1. give women a voice in society

4.5.2. Women were involved in politics and were receiving a higher education and equal pay

4.6. housewife and mother' ideal

5. Vietnam veterans And their Families

5.1. Physical

5.1.1. Wounded

5.1.2. Poisoned by insecticide and herbicide or Agent Orange

5.1.2.1. Investigation in 1985 says that it had not affected soldiers.

5.1.2.1.1. Not until 1994 was Agent orange acknowledged for diseases

5.1.2.2. Cancer, Birth Defects, Miscarriages, brain dysfunction and other diseases believed to be caused by Agent Orange

5.1.2.2.1. Pyschologial issues with handling these diseases.

5.1.3. Legacy

5.2. Psychological

5.2.1. Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

5.2.1.1. Alcoholism

5.2.1.1.1. Heart Disease and Other alcohol related diseases

5.2.1.2. No one knew how to deal with effects of PTSD

5.2.1.3. Suicide

5.2.1.4. compensation but nothing else

5.2.2. Lost 2 years of their lives

5.2.3. Unrecognized, Unthanked

5.2.3.1. No Welcome home parade

5.2.3.1.1. Felt Blamed for the war

5.2.3.2. Shunning of soldiers

5.2.3.2.1. Emotionally detached from family and lives

5.2.4. No one tried to understand what the soldiers went through

6. The Government

6.1. Outlawing the Communist Party

6.1.1. Menzies and Liberal Party Pledge to ban Communists

6.1.1.1. Previous bans have been attempted but only successful during war

6.1.1.2. Proposed to be unlawful

6.1.1.3. Problems

6.1.1.3.1. Justifying the ban

6.1.1.3.2. Industry workers

6.1.1.3.3. How to identify a communist

6.1.1.4. Communist Party Dissolution Bill

6.1.1.4.1. 1950

6.1.1.4.2. the CPA was to be declared an unlawful organisation and that the party's property could be seized and disposed of.

6.1.1.4.3. Anyone who carried on the work of the party after it was declared illegal was to be jailed for five years

6.1.1.4.4. as soon as someone was declared to be a communist, they were to be suspended from their job if it were in the federal government, the defence forces, or in the unions

6.1.1.4.5. a communist was 'a person who supports or advocates the objectives, policies, teachings, principles or practices of communism, as expounded by Marx and Lenin

6.1.1.4.6. Bill failed on first attempt because of the ALP said that the bill was a move towards a totalitarian state

6.1.1.4.7. The CPA and trade unions went to the high court to ask for an injunction

6.1.1.4.8. 1951 Referendum

6.1.1.5. America and England also had the same hunt for "reds under the beds

6.1.2. 30-year-old, established, political party

6.2. Alliances

6.2.1. South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO)

6.2.1.1. America, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, France, The Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan were all part of this treaty

6.2.1.1.1. Each Party recognises that aggression by means of armed attack in the Treaty Area against any of the Parties or against any State or territory which the Parties by unanimous agreement may hereafter designate, would endanger its own peace and safety, and agrees that it will in that event act to meet the common danger in accordance its constitutional processes. Article IV of the SEATO Treaty, 1954

6.2.2. ANZUS

6.2.2.1. This treaty was between Australia, New Zealand, and The United States

6.2.2.1.1. The main point of the treaty is "The parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any one of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened in the Pacific." Article III of the ANZUS Treaty, 1951