Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Universal suffrage
o Suffrage means the right to vote in
government elections. Universal suffrage
means the right of all adults to vote in
government elections.
Up until the late 19th century,
governments in most-nations were run
by a monarchy and the aristocracy.
Universal Education
o In the 18th century, education was only
available to the aristocracy (upper class)
The French & Industrial revolutions led
to new ideas about new practical
demands for education for all people.
The gradual widening of suffrage
helped to achieve universal education
as people needed to be educated in
order to vote.
In 1870, the British parliament passed
the Education Act which provided
almost free elementary schools for all
children.
Education for kids under 12
years old became compulsory in
1880.
o In Australia, in 1810 only 19% of children in
NSW were receiving any form of education
In 1866, the Public Schools Act (NSW)
established
a
system
of
state
elementary schools throughout NSW.
Primary education became compulsory
throughout Australian states in the
1870s.
o While girls were included in the drive for
universal suffrage, they were not given
equal access to secondary and university
education.
In 1921, women were allowed to
attend classes at Oxford University.
By 1969, 25% of Australias university
students were female.
Today, women account for more than
50% of university students.
o In developing nations, education has still not
become compulsory.
List the ways in which human rights are incorporated into Australian Law
When Australia first formed in 1901, there was little recognition for
human rights reflected in the minimal protection of rights in the
Australian Constitution.
However, more and more human rights have become protected in
Australia through common and statute law and government bodies
such as the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Australian Constitution
o Under the division of powers, the federal government has
exclusive power over international affairs the external
affairs power means that only the Australian government can