How did Edmund barton help Australian Democracy?

Answer 1

Barton was a strong advocate of the federation of the Australian colonies, and he led the federal movement following the death of Sir Henry Parkes. In 1897 he was one of the NSW delegates to the Constitutional Convention which developed a constitution for the proposed federation. As the most vigorous federalist in the largest state, Barton was appointed Prime Minister, although this was only after some negotiations with the newly elected Governor-General, Lord Hopetoun, who initially invited Sir William Lyne, the Premier of New South Wales, to form a government.

Barton was Prime Minister from January 1901 to September 1903. He died on 27 January 1920.

Answer 2

He led the Australian federation movement to a successful conclusion and became the first prime minister of the resulting commonwealth in 1901.

Barton in 1879 entered the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, where he served as speaker (1883-87); he was attorney general in 1889 and 1891-93. In 1891 he assumed leadership of the federation movement and, in the federal convention of that year, helped shape the draft that became the foundation for the eventual commonwealth constitution. The constitution bill passed the New South Wales assembly in 1893, and for the next four years Barton campaigned vigorously for its approval by the public. He led the federal convention of 1897-98 that drafted the final commonwealth constitution bill.

Barton went to England in 1900 to guide the new constitution through Parliament, and he returned to Australia to become prime minister later that year. (He was knighted in 1902.) Never thoroughly at home in the partisan atmosphere of the new Australian Parliament, he resigned his ministry in 1903 and became a senior judge on the High Court of Australia, serving until 1920.

Answer 3

Labor called him "Tosspot Toby" because of his heavy drinking. labor was suspicious of Barton and Federation because they feared the small agricultural states would overturn the labour reforms that had been achieved in the industrial states. However, they preferred and supported his protectionist party over George Reid's free-trade party and gave it parliamentary support in return for concessions to the party platform particularly in the White Australia Policy.

Answer 4

he helped in alot of ways...

this is a helpful website...i recommend it

http://www.nla.gov.au/barton/pages/prime minister-02.HTML

Answer 5

He was the first prime minister of Australia.