Press and Politics: A study of elections and political issues in Tasmania from 1856, when self government came into effect, to 1871.

The adoption of Representative Institutions (i) Some knowledge of events during the decade before the achievement of Responsible Government in 1656 is a prerequisite to an understanding of the 15 years following. Most of the leading politicians in the first years of Self Government had beon in the Colony during the period of the gold rushes, and the agitation for the cessation of Transportation. Indeed, the memories of many reached back to the dark years before Arthur became Chief Executive of the Van Dieman's Land penal settlement