Why is the eureka rebellion important?

Answer 1

The Eureka rebellion, better known as the Eureka Stockade, was important because it is regarded as the birthplace of democracy in Australia.

In the Eureka Stockade rebellion, the gold miners stood up against the miner's licence, which cost a monthly fee of 30 shillings and allowed the holder to work a tiny 3.6 metre square "claim". Licences had to be paid whether or not a digger found any gold. There were frequent licence hunts, during which the miners were ordered to produce proof of their licences, and this increased the sense of unrest.

In November 1854, the miners burned their licences in a mass display of resistance against the laws which controlled the miners. Following a widespread licence hunt the following day, on November 30, Irish immigrant and goldminer Peter Lalor was chosen to lead the rebellion.

On December 1, the miners began to construct a wooden barricade, a rather flimsy stockade from which they planned to make their stand against further licence arrests or other unreasonable displays of authority. Early in the morning on Sunday, 3 December 1854, 276 police and military personnel and several civilians stormed the stockade. It's unknown which side fired first, but ultimately 22 diggers and 5 troopers died in the battle that followed

Although the Eureka rebellion itself failed in what it set out to do, it gained the attention of the Government. Following a Commission of Enquiry, changes were put in place. These included abolishing the monthly gold licences, which were 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.