Notes on Evatt, please. (1 Viewer)

[goshawk]

Need notes on Evatt please, my stupid modern teacher was too lazy to teach the course properly. And it was a class of 4! I actually went through my ancient teacher to get an understanding of most of the topics.

 

[ahgachakachenga]

[FONT='Porky's']Herbert Evatt 1894 [/FONT][FONT='Porky's']–[/FONT][FONT='Porky's'] 1965[/FONT]​

Herbert Vere Evatt (aka Doc)

Background

· ‘Young Bert’ – Born 30.4.1894 in East Maitland.
· 5th of eight sons. Father a popular publican who died young. Mother left to raise sons – moved to Sydney for family support.
· Mother was religious and encouraged boys to read the Bible daily.
· Early values passed on to Bert were a concern for the less fortunate and a belief in the worth of each individual.
· Bert was a promising student at Fort St High. He excelled at school. Dux 1911 and Runner Up to Dux of the State. He won a bursary to the University of Sydney where he commenced studying Arts. Strongly influenced by a philosophy lecturer Childe.
· Showed signs of being a gifted writer at school. Won an essay competition. Wrote for student magazines whilst at University.
· Achieved academic success with Master of Arts in Philosophy (main field of study – Social and Political Tendencies in Australia).
· Actively involved in student life at university. Contributed to intellectual life through writing.
· Commenced his Law degree, completed it early (quite an achievement). First class Honours and University Medal.
· Early in his university career he held the post of treasurer of the University Men’s Christian Union.
· He undertook a systematic study of social problems.
· The influence of philosophy lecturers continued throughout his undergraduate life.
· Philosophy of ‘New Liberalism’ – Primacy of intellectual and spiritual over material and mechanical approaches to life.
· Evatt’s Early Years – a young man saw him take the political stance of a ‘New Liberal’. He held back from espousing radical views. He later moved to a more radical political position having been influenced by the deaths of his two brothers in WW1 and by observing the victimization of workers after the general strike of 1917. He tried twice to enlist but was failed because of poor eyesight.
· He came to firmly believe in the development of an ethical personality essential for the leaders of society.
· Admitted to the Bar in 1918.
· Married Mary Alice Sheffer. Whilst on his honeymoon to Hawaii he wrote a report on the nature and impact of the Japanese population there.
· On his return to Australia he wrote newspaper articles about racial problems in the US caused by the influx of immigrants.
· His wife helped to expand Bert’s horizons beyond work and study. He acquired an interest in modern art and music and enjoying success.
His Context

Ø Born pre Federation Evatt grew up in a new nation – the ‘baptism of blood’ at Gallipoli. The loss of his two brothers was an experience shared with many Australian families.
Ø University experience was not typical for most Australian families at this time.
Ø The reality of the World War was that conscription divided the nation, often along sectarian lines and split the Labor Party. The Federal Party would spend many years in the political wilderness. At the State level, the Party was stronger and the ‘Big Fella’, Jack Lang, was the Premier. There was a class mentality and strong loyalties to the party. There was also a ‘Red Scare’ underway in Australia promoted by the conservative Federal Government.
Ø Evatt entered state politics – seen as an impressive if not a traditional candidate. State politics was not to his liking – not enough of an intellectual challenge – Evatt returned to the bench after two years. He remained there throughout the incredibly tough years of the Depression – bad years for workers unions generally.
Ø The world was slipping towards war during these years – Fascism and militarism seemed unstoppable. Evatt was deeply concerned by the developments and decided to leave the Bench and make another run for politics this time at a Federal level. He won the seat of Barton and was quickly promoted to cabinet holding dual portfolios of External Affairs and Attorney General.
Ø Whilst it is a measure of the regard in which Evatt was held that he was so quickly promoted to cabinet, it was also a measure of his ambition that he could so confidently make such a move.
Ø Evatt strode the world stage annoying other Allies, Britain and France, in attempts to secure aircraft and equipment as well as getting Australian troops back to defend Australia. His success was limited – he did make an impression.
Ø During this time Evatt grasped just how much the geo-political world had changed and he was deeply concerned about the power that the US would gain from its dominance in the Pacific. His major achievement during this time was, for the first time, to chart an Australian foreign policy position on world issues. This had never been the case before. Australia had always followed Great Britain’s lead – the war changed this. Evatt was determined Australia’s voice would be heard.
Ø Concern about the US meant that Evatt would try to revitalise Imperial links to create a ‘Third Force’ in the world – A force that could counter the US and the USSR. In this way Australia could take the leading role in the South West Pacific and South East Asia – Australia’s chief areas of strategic concern.
Ø As the Super Powers eyed each other across incredible arsenals Evatt threw his energy into the push for a meaningful internationalism via the newly formed UN. However, the War time goal posts had shifted and the period of cooperation had ended. The realities of the Cold War powerfully emerged with real tension emerging in a number of trouble spots.
Ø Evatt was more successful in other areas with Australia playing a decisive role in helping the newly independent Indonesia. Indonesia achieved its independence from the Netherlands with major input from the newly formed UN. This was another important contextual change – Australia was positively engaged in its region and taking a leadership role.
Ø 1950 saw a conservative Government back in power in Australia. Evatt in Opposition and the Cold War in full flight. The Foreign Policy moved away from Labor’s more independent position to one of needing and having great and powerful allies. The Australian Government worked hard to secure an alliance system. ANZUS would become the cornerstone of this. This was a very real change of emphasis.
Ø The Cold War impacted powerfully on Australian domestic politics. Evatt was elected leader of the Labor Party following the death of the popular Ben Chifley. Would have to manage his party which was particularly prone to charges of being too close to communism. The world was cleaving into two camps and Australia would be drawn and draw itself into the US orbit.
Ø Evatt did not manage the difficulties of Cold War politics well. Despite defeating the Communist Party Dissolution Bill almost single handed he became somewhat of a victim of his own success – seen by many as too close to communists.
Ø During this period the Catholic Church was taking the fight up to Communism internationally as well as in Australia. Elements within the Church in Australia had decided to take on Communists within the Unions. Many of those same people were members of the ALP (Labor Party) and they wanted their party to take a hard line on Communism. The Labor Party was generally the party of the Irish Catholic working class and Evatt saw them as undermining his leadership. A second massive split developed in the Party over the issue of the ‘Groupers’ and a new party was formed – the DLP – The Democratic Labor Party – it directed all its preferences to the Liberal/Country Party coalition ensuring huge difficulties for Labor to be re-elected.
Ø It is also important to note that the 50’s was a time of growing prosperity, low unemployment, rising living standards and deep suspicion of communism or anything that smacked of it. The Australian electorate was very focussed on economic prosperity, deeply conservative and unimpressed with a leader who didn’t seem to address their day to day issues.
Ø It seemed to many that Communism was on the march particularly in South East Asia.

Rise to Prominence

Legal Life
* A continuation of a brilliant academic as a young man – student – Evatt completed two years of his law degree in one.
* He became recognised as a courtroom champion of civil rights questions defending Irish Rebels facing deportation and journalists facing defamation charges. Evan conservatives recognised his skills of advocacy.
* Evatt saw the law as a means to ensure justice and alleviate suffering.
* “He is now seen by top legal practitioners as having been a ‘lawyers’ lawyer’’
- Kirby
* At the age of 29 he was appointed as a King’s Counsel and at 36 appointed a High Court Justice by the Scullin Labor Government (Youngest ever)
* By the age of 36 he was top of his field.
* “He is now considered to be for-sighted but not a revolutionary” – Kirby
* Indeed he did not try to fear down the legal profession an the legal system – he worked within it to achieve justice. “The constitution was almost a sacred thing to Evatt.” – Kirby.

Major Achievements in a Brilliant Career
* In 1936 he made a judgement about the external powers of the Commonwealth that had profound effects years later. He showed that constitutionally the Federal/Commonwealth Government could override the States in matters of national or international importance. This was an extension of Commonwealth power and it was to “become absolutely critical to the way our Government now can act.” – Kirby (The Franklin river Debate, World Heritage Listed)
* The Communist Party Dissolution Bill – Evatt returned to the High Court as an advocate and convinced a largely conservative bench that Menzies’ Bill was unconstitutional by a margin of 6-1. Evatt through his powers of advocacy hed persuaded the judges.

Rise to Prominence as a Politician/Minister/Statesman
* Context: WWII

His ‘study leave’ trip to Paris in the late 30’s was a turning point in his life. Sensing that a major war was imminent and that Australia was largely unprepared he decided to quit the Bench and try to make his contribution to the nation through Federal Parliament.
* Evatt won a seat and was quickly brought into cabinet by Curtin in the new Labor Government. He was given two portfolios; External Affairs and Attorney General – a clear recognition of his abilities – other politicians would wait years to get even close to this level of ministerial responsibility.
* Evatt strove to ensure that Australia had its own role in the war. He travelled the world to hold discussions with the Allied leaders – Churchill and Roosevelt. His aim to secure desperately needed wartime materials met with ‘mixed success’ – Buckley
* After the war of San Francisco conference a dynamic fusion occurred where Evatt’s internationalist ideals and legal skills came together. He assembled a brilliant young team around him and it was “this young team that contributed greatly to Australia’s powerful contribution to forming the UN” – Renouf
* “Evatt had a miraculous ability to analyse documents” – Buttrose. He kept his hands on the whole conference with an unbelievable capacity for hard work.
* “The Charter became his Bible” – Buttrose
* “Fought the veto – the UN should not just be a great powers affair.” – Renouf
* He wrung concessions out of the Great Powers – “the extension of the powers of the General Assembly was crucial to the way the UN would run.” – McCormack
* He was hugely admired by the international press – he was seen as a world figure – “his contribution to the conference was seen as the greatest – all this can be seen as the greatest achievement of his political career.” – McCormack
* The proof of this can be seen in Australia being elected to the top bodies within the UN and in Evatt being elected President of the General Assembly.
* This achievement meant that Evatt had achieved his ambition and he did this by building on the reputation he achieved at San Francisco among smaller nations.
* Evatt’s rise to prominence as an international statesman was only compromised by the fact that he found it hard to accept that the cooperation that had won the war and lead to the establishment of the UN was over.

Rise to Prominence as Leader of the ALP
* Almost from the time he entered Federal Politics he was a leader in cabinet – look at his elevation to two portfolios – this marked him as a future leader.
* In opposition he became Chifley’s Deputy and assumed the leadership of the ALP upon the death of Chifley.
* Evatt faced enormous challenges as leader of the Party. The impact of the Cold War was being felt in the ALP with divisions opening up inside the Party. Evatt has to unite his Party and convince the Australian people not to support the Dissolution Bill and “all the while he was facing cruelly oppositionist press” – Kirby
* “His sincerity and passion helped to convince enough Australian’s to vote no” – McCllenand
* “This was Evatt’s finest hour - - - he was at his best here” – Barry Jones
* Labor was favoured to win the 1954 Federal election and it looked as if Evatt would achieve his goal of becoming Prime Minister. His rise to prominence in the leadership of the ALP seemed almost complete.

 

[094118]

hey,
I was wondering if you could please, please help me!
I do herbert evatt and australia in the world at my school but we have no textbook! I was wondering what text book do you use at your school?
I really, really need one and really need your help!
please wb thank you..xx

I

 

[CaitlinAngel714]

Quite coincidently I actually go to the same school as the person above so I can't help you by giving you any extra notes. I haven't got a textbook for Evatt though we did use a very good video on him which included quite a few historians. I'm sorry I can't tell you the eact name I just know it has been around for a while.

I am curious if there is anyone else who even does Evatt