In the latter part of the 18th century, Australia was coming of age as a nation. Five of the six colonies had introduced their own constitution, and the nation as a whole was on the cutting edge of world-leading initiatives. Literature and art were thriving, education was overhauled, and Australians were enjoying a golden age. Socially, politically, economically and culturally, the country was coming into its own. At this juncture, beginning in the 1890s there was a push by leaders towards creating a Federal government thus making Australia a fully-fledged nation in its own right. One of the key figures in this movement was Alfred Deakin. Deakin was a leading statesman, an orator and a lawmaker.