Making it to the platform : the involvement of women in the peace movement in Tasmania from the Crimean War to the end of the Vietnam War

The thesis examines comments made by Marilyn Lake in relation to the involvement of women in the referenda campaigns of World War 1. In particular what role women played in the anti-conscription campaign, noting if this involvement increased over the period of the second referendum. From this point did the involvement of women in the peace movement increase over the century and were women able to make it to the platform of the peace debate. An investigation was made into the terms used to describe different types of peace followers, and the distinction between pacifist and pacificist was made, the different levels of involvement in the peace movement were examined, as were the reasons why women become involved in the pursuit of peace, and why women form their own peace groups. The peace movement in Tasmania began in the 1830s with the Quakers, gradually gaining strength with the formation of the Peace Society in 1907. The first World War was a set back for the fledgling movement but with union help it mounted a strong challenge to the conscription referenda. The birth of the women's peace movement occurred at this time and continued to gain strength until the thirties when it took the lead in the movement, successfully gaining signatures for the Declaration against Disarmament. With the rise in fascist aggression occurring in Europe, Tasmanians began to lose confidence in the League of Nations Union as an effective peace body. World War II was another blow to the peace movement after which came concern about nuclear warfare particularly during the 'cold war'. The Vietnam War saw the rebirth of the peace movement, coinciding with the youth movement of the sixties, the resultant mass movement for peace was unlike any demonstration against government policy seen before. Women had been involved in the rise of the peace movement since Quaker times. Their own group, W.I.L.P.F. is the oldest surviving peace group in Tasmania. Though a pacifist group pursuing an educative role they have supported the protests of the peace movement when appropriate. With the women of this peace group and the Quakers rests the future of the peace movement in Tasmania.