1776 and all that : an ANU Convocation luncheon address given on 28 April 1976 by Dr Hector Kinloch

Abstract

Professor Elliott starts with a general welcome to the official guests and then the Chairman, Professor Bob Brissenden introduces the speaker - Dr Kinloch. Dr Kinloch starts by talking about a colleague of his who will be going on a study tour to America; he then goes on to talk about the author Richard Armour, who wrote a history of America titled 'It all started with Columbus'; then describes some of the more irreverently funny bicentennial preparations going on in America - including the creation of a bicentennial bad-taste award; also talks about what he hopes the bicentennial will achieve; in particular the reconsideration of America's national ideals; lists what he feels were those ideals and speaks about whether or not he feels in his opinion that the American Revolution was a good idea; examines and discusses several positive and negative aspects of this question. Dr Kinloch continues to look at the question of whether or not the American Revolution was a good idea; his examination of the modern day American's belief that King George III was a tyrant, and whether or not this view was justified; looks at aristocracy and privilege in modern day America and at the American form of government. Dr Kinloch concludes his address. He is then thanked by the Chairman of Convocation and asked questions from the audience. The first question is inaudible. The second question deals with the present state and future prospects of the egalitarian society of the United States. Other questions concern such subjects at whether or not other British colonies such as Australia or Canada would have achieved their ideals in a peaceful way if it had not been for the American Revolution achieving them first in a violent way and some of the parallels between the American and Australian way of thinking and acting and why this should be so as Australia did not have a war of independence.