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Colony : strange origins of one of the earliest modern democracies

Until 1832 the small towns of England were ruled by a curious set of institutions. These included the local Church of England and its vestry, and the unelected and self-appointing local government. They also had vigorous campaigns for election to the House of Commons, and public voting, characterised by virulent free speech and the occasional riot. How would these institutions transfer to Britain's colonies? In 1856 the remote colony of South Australia had the secret ballot, votes for all adult men, and religious freedom, and in 1857 self-government by an elected parliament. The basic framework of a modern democracy was suddenly established. How did South Australia become so modern, so early? How were British institutions radically transformed by British colonists, and why did the Colonial Office allow it? Reg Hamilton answers these questions with an amusing history of the curious institutions of unreconstructed Dover before modern democracy, in the period 1780-1835, and of the spirited and occasionally shameful conduct of colonists far from home, but determined to make their fortune in the distant colony of South Australia. (Publisher)

Item Information
Barcode Shelf Location Collection Volume Ref. Branch Status Due Date Res.
32320004213181 994.23 HAM
Adult Non Fiction   Maitland library . . Available .  
. Catalogue Record 442331 ItemInfo Beginning of record . Catalogue Record 442331 ItemInfo Top of page .
Catalogue Information
Field name Details
ISBN 9781862548930 (pbk.)
Classification Number 994.23 HAM
Author Hamilton, Reg
Title Colony : strange origins of one of the earliest modern democracies [BK]
Edition 1st ed.
Physical Description ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ;
Until 1832 the small towns of England were ruled by a curious set of institutions. These included the local Church of England and its vestry, and the unelected and self-appointing local government. They also had vigorous campaigns for election to the House of Commons, and public voting, characterised by virulent free speech and the occasional riot. How would these institutions transfer to Britain's colonies? In 1856 the remote colony of South Australia had the secret ballot, votes for all adult men, and religious freedom, and in 1857 self-government by an elected parliament. The basic framework of a modern democracy was suddenly established. How did South Australia become so modern, so early? How were British institutions radically transformed by British colonists, and why did the Colonial Office allow it? Reg Hamilton answers these questions with an amusing history of the curious institutions of unreconstructed Dover before modern democracy, in the period 1780-1835, and of the spirited and occasionally shameful conduct of colonists far from home, but determined to make their fortune in the distant colony of South Australia. (Publisher)
Hamilton family
Hamilton
Subject Colonists -- Australia -- South Australia
Colonists
Political science
Colonization
Pioneers -- South Australia
Pioneers -- Australia
Politik
Förvaltning
Kolonisation
Migration -- historia
South Australia -- Emigration and immigration
19th century
South Australia -- History -- 19th century
Dover (England) -- Politics and government -- History -- 19th century
South Australia -- History -- 1836-1851
Dover (England)
Politics and Government 1836-1900.
South Australia -- Colonization
England
Catalogue Information 442331 Beginning of record . Catalogue Information 442331 Top of page .