Lisarow High School Year 9 History
CURTIN WORKSHEET 1
Quotes from Curtin’s 1942 Speech.
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“I speak to you from Australia. I speak from a united people to a united people”
1) What important thing is Curtin saying the USA and Australia have in common?
“It is to the people of America I am now speaking”
2) Why is Curtin appealing directly to the people of the USA?
“the loss of Java and the splendid resistance of the gallant Dutch”
3) Where had Japanese forces advanced to that was close to Australia?
4) Why were the Dutch mentioned?
“yellow aggressor”
5) Why is this racist term used here?
“Had prepared for war on a scale of which neither we nor you had knowledge. We have all made mistakes”
6) What is Curtin saying about the comparison between the Japanese, Americans and the Australians?
“Our eyes are open.”
7) How does he say the attitude of the democracies has changed ?
“Segment of the great struggle”
8) What is the great struggle he refers to?
“Struck like an assassin”
9) How does he regard the beginning of this struggle?
“Except General MacArthur's gallant men”
10) Where were Macarthur and his forces at this time?
“We looked to America as the paramount factor on the democracies' side of the Pacific.”
11) What importance is he giving to American strength?
“No belittling of the Old Country”
12) To “Belittle” is to show disrespect or criticism. Why does Curtin say this about the “Old Country”
“Battle of Britain”
13) Where was the Battle of Britain fought? What was impressive about this?
“Battle of the Atlantic”
14) What were significant features of this struggle? Who were the rival forces?
15) Why did it seem that one side would prevail?
16) How did this change?
“All possible help to Russia”
17) Why were Britain and the US helping the Soviet Union?
“We are her sons”
18) What country is he referring to?
“For counsel and advice”
19) What is he hinting at here?
“Minister for External Affairs”
20) What is the job of this Minister in the Australian government?
“Will not go to you as a mendicant”
21) A mendicant is a beggar. What is Curtin trying to say here?
“Disaster of Dunkirk, the fury of Goering's blitz, the shattering blows of the Battle of the Atlantic”
22) How does Curtin regard the significance of these events?
“Out of every ten men in Australia four are wholly engaged in war as members of the fighting forces”
23) How big was the Australian army as a percentage of the total population?
“The other six, besides feeding and clothing the whole ten and their families, have to produce the food and wool and metals”
24) What does this say about the rest of the Australian community?
“Cutting out unessential expenditure”
25) What was the attitude of the “war economy”?
“Mobilizing woman-power to the utmost”
26) What dramatic social change was hinted at by Curtin ?
“No fifth column in this country”
27) A Fifth Column was a secret group of spies and subversives. How did Curtin view the Australian people?
“One race - the English speaking race”
28) What special bond is he trying to stress?
“The Anzac breed”
29) What did Curtin think was special about the Anzac breed?
“Gallipoli”
30) What aspects of the Gallipoli conflict did Curtin want to tell the American people about? How many years earlier was it?
“Libyan Desert”
31) Who were the Australians fighting against here ?
“'Rats' of Tobruk”
32) What was special about the Rats?
“Surrender of Singapore”
33) Why was this such a disaster for Australia?
Greece and Crete
34) Who were the Australians fighting here? What was the result of the campaign?
Kingsford-Smith tradition
35) How would Americans regard him?
“Quite a lot of them in Canada”
36) What had been happening in Canada with Australian airmen?
“Crucible of world wars”
37) A “crucible” is a container that melts metal .In the process impurities are burnt away. What are Curtin thoughts about this particular war?
“Hallmarked as pure metal.”
38) A “hallmark” is a guarantee of quality assured. What is Curtin saying the Australian people will emerge as from the struggle?
“'safety first' is the devil's catchword”
39) How does Curtin regard caution in the current situation?
“Iron control to drastic elimination of profits”
40) What change was there in the Australian economy?
“Unions are accepting the suspension of rights and privileges”
41) Why is this regarded as a positive by an American audience?
“Are three means of service - in the fighting forces; in the labour forces; in the essential industries?”
42) How are these sectors dependent on each other?
“Complete call-up or draft”
43) What was the Australian term for this?
44) What happened in WWI in respect to this ?
“The infirm remain outside the compass of our war plans.”
45) These are the people who cannot participate in the normal workforce. What impression does Curtin give of the size of this group?
“Same free institutions that you enjoy”
46) What is it that Curtin sees as linking the two races?
Lincoln, 'government of the people, for the people, by the people, shall not perish from the earth'.
47) What struggle was Lincoln involved in?
48) What does this statement of Lincoln mean?