Overview

Overview

The achievement of self-government in the Australian colonies during the 1800's paved the way toward independence in the 1900's. In the late 1890's, a growing number of Australians believed that the colonies would be better off as a single nation with a unified government, which could more easily deal with common problems in an organized manner. The movement toward federation was also encouraged by a growing sense of national pride.

In 1897 and 1898, a federal convention drew up a constitution for Australia. After approval of the constitution by the people and Britain, the six colonies became states of a new nation, the Commonwealth of Australia, on Jan. 1, 1901. The new nation kept the British monarch as head of state.