What impact did the gold rush have on democracy?

Answer 1

The goldrush in Australia led to the Eureka Stockade. This was the Australian Gold Field Rebellion of 1854, a dispute between diggers protesting the high price of their licence fee, and the troopers who carried out checks and enforced the licence fees. Previous delegations for miners' rights had met with resistance from the Victorian government, so the events leading up to the Eureka Stockade were an attempt to gain the notice of the government. The battle itself was a confrontation between the miners and the troopers near Ballarat in the early hours of 3 December 1854. A Commission of Enquiry was conducted and changes were implemented. These included abolition of monthly gold licences, replaced by an affordable annual miner's licence. The numbers of troopers were reduced significantly, and Legislative Council was expanded to allow representation to the major goldfields. Peter Lalor and another representative, John Basson Humffray, were elected for Ballarat. Later, Lalor was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria. For these reasons, the Eureka Stockade is regarded by many as the birthplace of Australian Democracy.