World War 1 Conscription

Referendum/Plebiscite

A direct public vote to change the Australian Constitution. Prime Minister William Hughes conducted a referendum to gain to public's support to grant conscription in Australia. (He failed.)

Constitution

A set of fundamental principles/rules according to a governed state.

Australian Imperial Force

The Australian Imperial Force was the only military made up entirely of volunteers. The number of people enlisting at the beginning of the war was so high that they had to turn people away. However the immense death toll caused enlistment rates to dwindle, leading a vote for conscription.

Prime-Minister William Hughes

The Defense Act 1903 gave the Australian government the power to conscript people for military service inside Australia but not for service overseas. Prime-Minister Hughes fought for international conscription when the previous year he had said 'In no circumstances would I agree to send men out of this country to fight against their will'. While fighting for the referendum, Hughes' own party (Labor) was against him.

Conscription

The compulsory enlistment of people into military service using a 'lottery system'. Australia and South Africa became the only places in the allied forces to refuse conscription.