HIstory, of Struggles and Pride
A.D.: Britain claims Australia. It settles the first of six colonies in 1788

                        “Australia's first inhabitants were dark-skinned nomadic hunters who arrived around 35,000 B.C. Anthropologists believe these Aborigines came from Southeast Asia by crossing a land bridge that existed at the time. Their Stone Age culture remained largely unchanged for thousands of generations, until the coming of European explorers and traders….During the next 30 years, Dutch navigators charted much of the northern and western coastline of what they called New Holland. The Dutch did not colonize Australia, thus in 1770 when the British explorer Captain James Cook landed at Botany Bay, near the site of the present city of Sydney, he claimed the whole of the east coast of Australia for Britain, naming it New South Wales. In 1642, the Dutch navigator, A. J. Tasman, reached New Zealand where Polynesian Maoris were inhabitants. Between 1769 and 1777, Captain James Cook visited the island four times, making several unsuccessful attempts at colonization. Interestingly, among Cook's crew were several Americans from the 13 colonies, and the American connection with Australia did not end there” (A USTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALANDER AMERICANS).

            This is quite interesting when considering Americas own history. The Native Americans where very similar to the Aboriginal and Maori people. The colonies did they same thing to their homeland. Also the origins of the people is surprising; traveling great distances to finally end up in Australia, just as the native Americas are said to come from Europe by crossing the frozen waters of the world to their new land. The technology used must have been so innovative and amazing, Although the colonization of Australia seemed to be more delayed and hesitant then the colonization of America.

           

1840:  The Maori sign the Treaty of Waitangi giving control to the British in exchange for protection and guaranteed Maori possession of their land.   “Australia's population today includes about 210,000 Aboriginal people, many of whom are of mixed white ancestry; approximately a quarter of a million Maori descendants currently reside in New Zealand. In 1840, the New Zealand Company established the first permanent settlement there. A treaty granted the Maoris possession of their land in exchange for their recognition of the sovereignty of the British crown; it was made a separate colony the following year and was granted self-governance ten years later. This did not stop white settlers from battling the Maoris over land” (AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALANDER AMERICANS).

            Even the population of the Maori is similar to American ancestor, although I believe that we have less of a native ancestry today with the natives because of the massacres that took place. The British seemed a little more compelled to work with the natives in this case, rather than our own, its quiet interesting when considering that there cultural and land benefits seemed lass of a pressing issue. This of course merely leaves questions like, would our country be this divided if, infect Britain granted the same right to the Native Americans? How come Australia could not seem to overcome this potent cultural battle even a little to day? Am I native to think our country has overcome such prejudice?  Does Australia have their own version of Pocahontas?

1907: 
The country becomes a dominion, or self-governing community, within the British empire.

1947: 
New Zealand gains independence from Great Britain.

            “The historical development of New Zealand’s foreign affairs is “the history of a colony becoming independent.” [2]  When the British Parliament passed the New Zealand Constitution Act in 1852, New Zealand embarked on a journey of independence from Britain in exercising sovereignty – legislative, judicial, and executive authority – over its domestic affairs. However, ‘imperial interests’, (including foreign relations, external trade, the constitution and ‘native affairs’), were beyond the powers of the New Zealand Parliament. New Zealand did not obtain ‘Dominion status’ until 1907, but this also did not mean full sovereign independence because “the status of the dominions in international affairs is not necessarily identical with dominion status.” [3]  

            “In fact New Zealand did not achieve full independence – in the sense of complete autonomy or sovereign power over its own constitutional arrangements and its foreign affairs – until 1947. The year 2007, while it marks the centenary of New Zealand’s transition from colony to Dominion, also marks 60 years since New Zealand passed the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947 and gained legal and formal independence from Britain in the exercise of its external affairs”(New Zealand Sovereignty: 1857, 1907, 1947, or 1987).

            

This is amazing; I never thought New Zealand was under control for such an extensive amount of time, it’s shocking. In comparison to New Zealand our independence was gained rather quickly. Why is that I wonder? What did New Zealand have that made them valuable to Britain?  I could hardly imagine living in a modern world under control from a country so very far away.

1962:
Aborigines are given the right to vote. Five years later, they're recognized as citizens.

1976:
The Aboriginal Land Rights Act is passed. It is a legal turning point for Aborigines, giving them the right to make claims on their ancestral land in the Northern Territory. Nine years later, Uluru is returned to Aborigines.

2008:The Australian parliament formally apologizes for past wrongs committed against the Aboriginal people.

1924:All Indians declared citizens of U.S (Important Events*
American Indian History)

1934: Wheeler-Howard Act, passed to protect Native Cultures in the United States of America (Important Events*
American Indian History)

            Is it just me or is this kind of creepy how similar these things are? After years of suffrage and horror, a moment comes where the tears are granted there falling wish. I find it a little shameful though that when all is said and done all that’s left is a promise of protection or a simple apology. Really? After every dead and fallen child, parent, sibling, family member, friend? I guess that’s all that can be done, but even now that seems as though many where thrown into the flames with there meaning full deaths where left sundered.

 All

            "Australian history is almost always picturesque; indeed, it is also so curious and strange, that it is itself the chiefest novelty the country has to offer and so it pushes the other novelties into second and third place. It does not read like history, but like the most beautiful lies; and all of a fresh new sort, no mouldy old stale ones. It is full of surprises and adventures, the incongruities, and contradictions, and incredibilities; but they are all true, they all happened." ( Mark Twain, 1897 )

           

            “Yet America is a poem in our eyes; its ample geography dazzles the imagination, and it will not wait long for metres.”  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The Poet," Essays, Second Series, 1844

           

            “God bless America. God save the Queen. God defend New Zealand and thank Christ for Australia. “Russell Crowe

\          Imperialistic motives caused each of these countries to arise and develope. That egotistical ideal is what gave life to these countries that would honestly be a mere inconvenience to the ever-growing Europe. In a way that superiority idea, caused the birth of the nations but the growth and pride of these nations lies within their tails of their struggles for freedom and equality. There proudly held chins not only of the stealers but that of the natives. Each of those struggles where worth the outcome. These timelines and dates represent something to be proud of, and it’s a grand feeling, to truly be proud of your country.

In order of use

a)     http://www.everyculture.com/multi/A-Br/Australian-and-New-Zealander-Americans.html

b)    http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/ParlSupport/ResearchPapers/9/1/8/00PLLawRP07041-New-Zealand-sovereignty-1857-1907-1947-or-1987.htm

c)     http://www.bluecloud.org/43.html

d)    http://www.convictcreations.com/culture/yankaussie.htm

e)     http://www.quotegarden.com/patriotic-usa.html

f)     http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/zealand.html