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Line 17: − + − He became Prime Minister just before the war started, and died in office a month before the war ended. He is often regarded as the Greatest Australian Prime Minister by numerous polls.<ref>Such as the one conducted by The Age in 2004. Other polls include Newspoll and reputable news program Today Tonight.</ref> − + + + + + + + + + + + + + − + + Line 40:
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'''John Curtin''' was the Prime Minister of [[Australia]] during the [[World War II|second World War]].
'''John Curtin''' was the Labor Party Prime Minister of [[Australia]] (1941-45), leading his nation to victory in [[World War II]] in close collaboration with the United States and its representative in Asutralia, General [[Doulas MacArthur]].
Curtin led the transition from Australia as part of the British Empire to an independent nation more dependent upon the United States for its security and economy. Even before Singapore fell to the Japanese in 1942, Curtin declared that Australia "looks to America free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom." The threat of a Japanese invasion in 1942 convinced Australia to link up with the U.S.
He moved from socialism to a more moderate position when he took power. Curtin is often regarded as the Greatest Australian Prime Minister by numerous polls.<ref>Such as the one conducted by The Age in 2004. Other polls include Newspoll and reputable news program Today Tonight.</ref>
Curtin led the transition from Australia as part of the British Empire to an independent nation more dependent upon the United States for its security and economy. Even before Singapore fell to the Japanese in 1942, Curtin declared that Australia "looks to America free of any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom." With the loss of Australian forces in Singapore, the threat of a Japanese invasion in 1942 convinced Australia to link up with the U.S. and to pull its troops out of the British forces in Egypt.
==Career==
Curtin was born to a working class family in Creswick, Victoria. He attended state schools and entered the field of labor journalism, becoming known as a leftist socialist and critic of the labor movement. From 1911 to 1915 he was secretary of the Timber Workers' Union of Victoria, and was editor of the ''Westralian Worker'' in Perth from 1917 to 1928.
During World War I he was antimilitarist and opposed conscription vigorously. As a writer on economic problems, Curtin desired to give to Australian socialism a theoretical as well as a political basis, stressing the positive rather than the negative aspects of the movement. His public services before he became the acknowledged leader of the Labour Party included acting as Australian delegate to the International Labour Conference in 1924, as a member of the Commission on Family Allowances in 1927-1928, and as state advocate for West Australia to the Commonwealth Grants Commission from 1933 to 1935. He was a member of the Commonwealth House of Representatives from 1928 to 1931 and again from 1934 until his death.
Curtin became the leader of the Labor Party in 1935 and was successful in settling dissension within it.<ref> Australian spelling is "labour" except for the name of the party which is the "Labor Party."</ref> He argued that Australia could not solve European problems and ought, therefore, to concentrate on its own defense through air power. Curtin gave support to Australian participation in World War II despite reverses in the Mediterranean area in 1941.
===World War II==
Curtin became prime minister in October 1941.
Curtin appealed to the Australian Labor Party to allow the use of the Citizen Military Forces outside Australia, a dramatic reversal of historic labor policy. Hasluck (1970) argues Curtin was motivated by electoral calculations and a shrewd response to
Curtin appealed to the Australian Labor Party to allow the use of the Citizen Military Forces outside Australia, a dramatic reversal of historic labor policy. Hasluck (1970) argues Curtin was motivated by electoral calculations and a shrewd response to
the campaign of the opposition. In addition American General [[Douglas MacArthur]] influenced Curtin, and the move should be seen in the light of Curtin's appeal for greater assistance from the United States at a time when the Southwest Pacific was low on the list of global priorities. That is, the Americans insisted that Australian soldiers fight as hard for Australia as American soldiers were doing.
the campaign of the opposition. In addition American General [[Douglas MacArthur]] influenced Curtin, and the move should be seen in the light of Curtin's appeal for greater assistance from the United States at a time when the Southwest Pacific was low on the list of global priorities. That is, the Americans insisted that Australian soldiers fight as hard for Australia as American soldiers were doing.
The Curtin and subsequent [[Ben Chifley]] Labor governments sought to manage the economy and encourage industry and full employment without resorting to nationalization, socialism or the welfare state.
The Curtin government and the subsequent [[Ben Chifley]] Labor government sought to manage the economy and encourage industry and full employment without resorting to nationalization, socialism or the welfare state.
==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* Barclay, G. St. J. "Australia Looks to America: The Wartime Relationship, 1939-1942," ''Pacific Historical Review,'' Vol. 46, No. 2 (May, 1977), pp. 251-271 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3637934 in JSTOR]
* Edwards, John. ''Curtin's Gift: Reinterpreting Australia's Greatest Prime Minister'' (2005) [http://www.questia.com/read/108661368?title=Curtin's%20Gift%3a%20%20Reinterpreting%20Australia's%20Greatest%20Prime%20Minister online edition]
* Edwards, John. ''Curtin's Gift: Reinterpreting Australia's Greatest Prime Minister'' (2005) [http://www.questia.com/read/108661368?title=Curtin's%20Gift%3a%20%20Reinterpreting%20Australia's%20Greatest%20Prime%20Minister online edition]
* Hasluck, Paul. ''The Government and the People 1942-43'' (1970)
* Hasluck, Paul. ''The Government and the People 1942-43'' (1970)
{{Australian Prime Ministers}}
{{Australian Prime Ministers}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Curtin, John}}
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Socialism]]
[[Category:World War II]]