Difference between revisions of "Charter of Rights"
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The Ballarat Reform League Charter is a four-page handwritten manifesto of democratic principles and demands, presented to Governor Hotham in November 1854, a few weeks before the [[Eureka Stockade]] rebellion. The Charter is handwritten on watermarked government blue paper, folded into four foolscap-sized pages containing the text of the charter adopted by over 10,000 miners and storekeepers on [[Bakery Hill]] on the Ballarat goldfields on 11 November 1854, establishing its authority to represent the opinion of the majority of the adult population of Ballarat. The Southern Cross flag, designed and adopted by the [[Ballarat Reform League]], was flown for the first time at this meeting. The Charter was presented to Governor [[Charles Hotham]] on 27 November by representatives of this meeting, who also demanded the release of three prisoners arrested for burning [[James Bentley]]'s [[Eureka Hotel]]. This is a clerk's copy of the original Charter, held by the Public Records Office, Victoria. The original has not survived, and its format is unknown. The copy was created for administrative purposes by the Governor's office at the time it was received by Governor Hotham. It has markings on it indicating it was created by the Governor's office and that it | The Ballarat Reform League Charter is a four-page handwritten manifesto of democratic principles and demands, presented to Governor Hotham in November 1854, a few weeks before the [[Eureka Stockade]] rebellion. The Charter is handwritten on watermarked government blue paper, folded into four foolscap-sized pages containing the text of the charter adopted by over 10,000 miners and storekeepers on [[Bakery Hill]] on the Ballarat goldfields on 11 November 1854, establishing its authority to represent the opinion of the majority of the adult population of Ballarat. The Southern Cross flag, designed and adopted by the [[Ballarat Reform League]], was flown for the first time at this meeting. The Charter was presented to Governor [[Charles Hotham]] on 27 November by representatives of this meeting, who also demanded the release of three prisoners arrested for burning [[James Bentley]]'s [[Eureka Hotel]]. This is a clerk's copy of the original Charter, held by the Public Records Office, Victoria. The original has not survived, and its format is unknown. The copy was created for administrative purposes by the Governor's office at the time it was received by Governor Hotham. It has markings on it indicating it was created by the Governor's office and that it | ||
was the copy read by Governor Hotham.<ref>http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/13970/download-report, accessed 09 June 2017.</ref> | was the copy read by Governor Hotham.<ref>http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/13970/download-report, accessed 09 June 2017.</ref> | ||
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+ | The Charter expresses universal democratic values, drawn from Chartist and other international democratic movements of its time. It asserted that the people are the only legitimate source of political power and demanded the abolition of the hated licence system, manhood suffrage, payment of members of parliament and no property qualification.<ref>http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/13970/download-report, accessed 09 June 2017.</ref> | ||
It is believed that [[J.B. Humffray]] penned the [[Charter of Rights]]. The [[Ballarat Reform League]] Charter was presented at a meeting on 11 November 1854 and ratified by a crowd of about 10,000. | It is believed that [[J.B. Humffray]] penned the [[Charter of Rights]]. The [[Ballarat Reform League]] Charter was presented at a meeting on 11 November 1854 and ratified by a crowd of about 10,000. | ||
The Ballarat Reform League Charter is the first document in the history of Australia to promote participatory democracy. That document has been entered into the UNESCO Memory of the World database, which aims to collect the most important documents in the history of mankind. | The Ballarat Reform League Charter is the first document in the history of Australia to promote participatory democracy. That document has been entered into the UNESCO Memory of the World database, which aims to collect the most important documents in the history of mankind. | ||
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+ | == Significance of the Ballarat Reform League Charter == | ||
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+ | [[Ballarat Reform League]] Charter is historically significant in the history of democracy in Victoria and as a central feature of the Eureka story, one of the most significant and influential events in Australia's political and social history. The Charter is also of historical significance as an expression of the [[Ballarat Reform League]] as a political movement and a forerunner of organised labour in Australia. The Ballarat Reform League Charter is socially significant as it is widely seen as having ongoing relevance to the Australian people and their democratic institutions. The struggle for democratic reform, as expressed in the Charter and the Eureka rebellion, is of fundamental significance to our understanding of Australian society and democratic institutions.<ref>http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/13970/download-report, accessed 09 June 2017.</ref> | ||
== Also See == | == Also See == | ||
[[Ballarat Reform League]] | [[Ballarat Reform League]] | ||
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+ | [[Charles Hotham]] | ||
[[J.B. Humffray]] | [[J.B. Humffray]] | ||
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Victorian Heritage Database - http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/13970/download-report | Victorian Heritage Database - http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/13970/download-report | ||
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Revision as of 19:38, 9 June 2017
Contents
Background
The Ballarat Reform League Charter is a four-page handwritten manifesto of democratic principles and demands, presented to Governor Hotham in November 1854, a few weeks before the Eureka Stockade rebellion. The Charter is handwritten on watermarked government blue paper, folded into four foolscap-sized pages containing the text of the charter adopted by over 10,000 miners and storekeepers on Bakery Hill on the Ballarat goldfields on 11 November 1854, establishing its authority to represent the opinion of the majority of the adult population of Ballarat. The Southern Cross flag, designed and adopted by the Ballarat Reform League, was flown for the first time at this meeting. The Charter was presented to Governor Charles Hotham on 27 November by representatives of this meeting, who also demanded the release of three prisoners arrested for burning James Bentley's Eureka Hotel. This is a clerk's copy of the original Charter, held by the Public Records Office, Victoria. The original has not survived, and its format is unknown. The copy was created for administrative purposes by the Governor's office at the time it was received by Governor Hotham. It has markings on it indicating it was created by the Governor's office and that it was the copy read by Governor Hotham.[1]
The Charter expresses universal democratic values, drawn from Chartist and other international democratic movements of its time. It asserted that the people are the only legitimate source of political power and demanded the abolition of the hated licence system, manhood suffrage, payment of members of parliament and no property qualification.[2]
It is believed that J.B. Humffray penned the Charter of Rights. The Ballarat Reform League Charter was presented at a meeting on 11 November 1854 and ratified by a crowd of about 10,000.
The Ballarat Reform League Charter is the first document in the history of Australia to promote participatory democracy. That document has been entered into the UNESCO Memory of the World database, which aims to collect the most important documents in the history of mankind.
Significance of the Ballarat Reform League Charter
Ballarat Reform League Charter is historically significant in the history of democracy in Victoria and as a central feature of the Eureka story, one of the most significant and influential events in Australia's political and social history. The Charter is also of historical significance as an expression of the Ballarat Reform League as a political movement and a forerunner of organised labour in Australia. The Ballarat Reform League Charter is socially significant as it is widely seen as having ongoing relevance to the Australian people and their democratic institutions. The struggle for democratic reform, as expressed in the Charter and the Eureka rebellion, is of fundamental significance to our understanding of Australian society and democratic institutions.[3]
Also See
External Links
Victorian Heritage Database - http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/13970/download-report
- ↑ http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/13970/download-report, accessed 09 June 2017.
- ↑ http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/13970/download-report, accessed 09 June 2017.
- ↑ http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/13970/download-report, accessed 09 June 2017.