Year 1 History Notes

Chapter 1: From Temasek to Singapore (1299-Early

1800s)

Background
682
Srivijaya emerges as the dominant kingdom in the Malay Archipelago.
1025
The decline of Srivijaya began with the invasion by the Chola Kingdom in India.
1299
According to Sejarah Melayu, Sang Nila Utama, also known as Sri Tri Buana, arrives in
Temasek and renames the island Singapura.
1400
Parameswara (also known as Iskandar Shah), a prince from Palembang, establishes a
trading port at Melaka.
1490s-1500s
European voyages of discovery and economic expansion result in the growing conflict
between the European maritime countries extending into Asia.
1511
Melaka falls to the Portuguese.
1528
The Melaka Sultan’s son, Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II, establishes the Johor Sultanate.
1600s - 1640s
Conflict between the Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese in Southeast Asia intensifies as they
compete for trade and colonies.
1619
The Dutch establish a permanent trading base in Batavia (present-day Jakarta).
1641
Melaka falls to the Dutch.
1699
The Johor Sultan, Mahmud Shah II, is assassinated, plunging the Sultanate into political
crisis.
How did Singapore’s Geographical Location affect its connections with the
Region and the World?
- Singapore is part of Southeast Asia, which lies to the south of China and the east of
India.
- These two large countries were home to old and influential civilisations which
traded extensively throughout the region and beyond.
- For example, Chinese goods, such as silk and ceramics, were in demand as far away
as Europe, where products from Southeast Asia, such as spices, scented wood and
shells, were highly valuable in China and India.

During ancient times, the most important trade link between the civilizations of Asia, the
Middle East and Europe was the network of land routes known as the Silk Road. This route
connected China through Central Asia to the Roman Empire, which controlled much of the
Middle East and Europe for centuries.

(Silk Road)

However, this route became less safe for travellers due to the increased danger and
difficulties of travelling via the maritime route.

In response to this, many trade centres emerged in Southeast Asia, Travellers from China,
India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia who passed through this region would stop at
various ports to:
- Pick up items for trade
- Acquire supplies such as food and water
- Repair their ships
- Wait for the favourable weather conditions before continuing on their journeys

Over time, the wealth gained from trade allowed some of these ports to grow into small
kingdoms, also known as maritime kingdoms. Two examples in Southeast Asia were
Srivijaya and the Melaka Sultanate.
Singapore lies off the Southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, along a waterway known as the
Straits of Melaka.

Ships sailing from China to India would have to pass through the Straits of Melaka as the
quickest route to their destination (by sea).
This:
- Reduced amount and cost of supplies they needed, such as food and water
- Reduced risk of pirate attacks and accidents

Other routes through the island further east, in what is today’s Indonesia, would take a
longer time to complete.

Singapore’s location also allowed it to benefit from monsoon winds, which are seasonal
rain-bearing winds. In the days of sailing ships, journeys by sea were almost utterly
dependent upon wind patterns. The southwest monsoons blow from June to September,
while the northeast monsoons blow from December to March.

Countries with economic interests in Asia would place great importance on the Straits of
Melaka. Control over the Straits would allow them to move their ships quickly and safely
within and beyond Asia. In different historical periods, the:
- Chinese
- Portuguese
- Dutch
- British
- Japanese
would attempt to control the Straits to secure maritime routes for their ships between the
South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.
These attempts to control the straits were a key factor in shaping the development of
Singapore over the centuries.

How did EARLY Singapore become an IMPORTANT TRADING CENTRE?

- Southeast Asia was positioned to benefit from the maritime trade taking place
between China and the rest of the world.
- This trade enabled several trading centres to emerge and develop throughout the
region.
- Srivijaya developed around the port of Palembang in Sumatra
- Over time, Srivijaya grew into a powerful empire that brought stability to places
controlled by it.
 - Its strong navy suppressed piracy within its empire, making it safer for ships to sail
and trade in the region.
- However, from the 11th century onwards, Srivijaya started to decline due to
external threats, such as invasions from:
- The Chola Kingdom in southern India
- The Siamese Kingdom (present day Thailand)
- Majapahit (based in Java)
Due to the decline of Srivijaya, trade shifted northwards and parts in the area benefitted.
During this period, trade between China and Southeast Asia also increased.
These factors contributed to the rise of early Singapore, also known as Temasek then, as a
trading centre in the 14th century.

Why had Singapore declined by the 15th century?

By the middle of the 14th century, Singapore had started to decline and would soon be
overshadowed by a new port city to its north, Melaka.
- Climatic and economic changes that affected trade with China:
Weather patterns underwent severe changes in the 14th century, this contributed
to famines and droughts in China, as the Chinese economy collapsed under this
strain, trade between Southeast Asia and China would have also suffered
accordingly.

- Like Srivijaya,Singapore also fell prey to external threats. As a small island, it was
always vulnerable to the larger powers in the region, for example, the Kingdom of
Majapahit and Ayutthaya (in Thailand) launched attacks on Temasek that weakened it
by the end of the 14th century.
- In c. 1400, the Melaka Sultanate was founded along the Straits of Melaka, north of
Singapore. The Sultanate became one of the dominant trading centres in the
region, and soon extended control over much of the Malay peninsula and Sumatra.
Like Singapore, Melaka was situated in a convenient location for traders travelling
between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, providing them with a safe
harbour during their long voyages.
- Parameswara’s conversion to Islam and marriage to a Muslim princess from
Sumatra also attracted Muslim traders to Melaka. Furthermore, Parameswara
established Melaka’s status as a vassal of China. This meant that it would pay tribute
to the Chinese emperor in return for protection. This gave Melaka security from
threats posed by rivals in the region.
- This peace allowed Melaka to grow into a greater trading centre, and attracted
traders from Sumatra, India and the Middle East.
 - Despite Singapore being overshadowed by Melaka, it was still important to the
Melaka Sultanate as it was home to the Orang Laut, a seafaring people who were the
backbone of Melaka's naval forces.

The Arrival of the Europeans

At the beginning of the 16th century, religious, political and economic rivalries were
intensifying among the major powers of Europe. With the voyages of discovery in the late
15th century in which European sailors opened new maritime routes into Asia and other
parts of the world, this conflict and competition began spreading into Asia.

Some famous voyages were those of Christopher Columbus, who landed in North America,
and Vaco de gama, who established a maritime route from Europe to India, passing around
the Cape of Good Hope (along the Coastline of Southern Africa). This was particularly
important as it allowed Europeans to bypass the Eastern Mediterranean, which was under
the control of the Ottoman Turks. The Ottoman Turks were constantly at war with the
European countries in this period.

The rivalry between the maritime nations of Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands began to
focus on Asia.
- They raced to tap its markets and establish trading settlements in the region.
- European influence started growing in the region
- Made the kingdom of the Melaka Sultanate vulnerable.
- When the well-armed Portuguese decided to take over Melaka, they easily
conquered the city.
- The Melaka Sultan fled south
- His successor would establish a new kingdom along the Johor river, which came to
be known as the Johor Sultanate.

How Important was Singapore Under the Johor Sultanate?

- Singapore revived some of its trading functions that had been lost during the period
of Melaka dominance.
- Trade between the Johor Sultanate and China.
What caused Singapore to decline again?
- Political changes in the region in the mid-17th century, causing yet another decline.
- After 1610, the Dutch turned their attention southwards towards the Sunda Straits
and Java, away from the Straits of Melaka.
- The Dutch also established their main base in Asia at Batavia, (present day Jakarta)
- The political crisis that resulted from the assassination of the childless Sultan
Mahmud Shah II in 1699
- By the 18th century, Riau and other regional ports had replaced Singapore as centres
of trade that linked the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea.
- As Singapore had lost importance, shipping now bypassed the island, Singapore and
nearby coastal regions became sparsely populated places where inhabitants lived off
the sea and pirates visited to raid and hide.

Chapter 2: How Did Singapore become a British

Trading Post?

By the 18th century, Singapore had little trade or economic activity. It would gain
prominence later in the 19th century as a British trading post and port city.

Background
1600
The British East India Company (EIC) is founded.
1602
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) is founded.
1784
Following the Dutch defeat of Johor-Riau and its Bugis allies in war, Johor-Riau signs
treaties which result in it becoming a vassal of the Netherlands.
1786
The British establish a trading post in Penang
1789
War breaks out between France and other European powers. (Napoleonic wars)
1811
Britain takes over Java from the Dutch and Sir Stamford Raffles becomes its
Lieutenant-Governor
1812
Sultan Mahmud Shah dies unexpectedly in the Riau Islands. His younger son, Tengku Abdul
Rahman, becomes Sultan instead of the heir and eldest son, Tengku Hussein.
1814
The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814 (also known as the Convention of London) is signed. The
British agree to return Java and Melaka to the Dutch.
1818
March: Raffles becomes Governor-General of Bencoolen.
November: The Dutch sign a treaty with Johor-Riau by which the treaties of 1784 are
renewed.
1819
The British establish a trading post in Singapore. Sir Stamford Raffles appoints Major
William Farquhar as the first Resident of Singapore.
1822
Raffles visits Singapore for the final time and appoints Lieutenant Philip Jackson to draw up
a plan for the future layout of Singapore.
1823
Raffles appoints Dr John Crawfurd as the second Resident of Singapore.
1824
The 1824 Anglo-Dutch Treaty between Britain and the Netherlands are signed. The Dutch
formally drop their legal claims to the island of Singapore.
Crawfurd signs the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance with Sultan Hussein and Temenggong
Abdul Rahman, which gives the British control over the whole of Singapore.
1826
The East India Company (EIC) forms the Straits Settlements by grouping Penang, Melaka
and Singapore together.

● Most British trade in Asia was conducted by the British East India Company.
● EIC exported cotton and opium from India, wool from Britain to China and bought
silk, porcelain and tea from China (highly sought after by Britain)
● Trade between India and China was under the control of the EIC.
● To protect its lucrative trade, the British needed to control the Straits of Melaka
and the waters surrounding Singapore. However, this was controlled by the Dutch.
● The EIC’s trade was confined to Bengkulu, therefore there was a need to find a
suitable place for the trade that was free from Dutch control.
● Moreover, the Europeans were competing in Southeast Asia for the Spice trade;
spices were useful for preserving food as refrigeration and artificial preservatives
were not developed yet.
 ● In the 17th century, the British and the Dutch had been fierce competitors for trade
outside Europe.
● The VOC (Dutch East India Company) monopolised the Spice trade in Southeast
Asia
● Dutch control over the Sunda waterways meant that British trade was confined to
Bengkulu.
● Both British ports (Melaka and Bengkulu) were unsuitable for trading due to their
location, on the West of Sumatra, it was not along the common routes of trade.
● Thus, a new port was needed.

British search for a new port

● The Dutch were angry with Raffles’ initiatives because the British could possibly
compete with them for trade should they be able to claim a trading port in
Southeast Asia.
● The British, wanting to maintain their friendship with the Dutch, decided to forbid
Raffles from claiming any territory that could possibly be claimed by the Dutch by
sending a letter to India. However, by the time the letter arrived, Raffles had already
left.
● When Raffles and Farquhar arrived at S’pore, they were informed that it was not
occupied by the Dutch, thus, S’pore was chosen as a trading port.

Why Singapore?
● Singapore:
○ Had a natural sheltered harbour
○ Was not occupied by the Dutch
○ Had deep waters, could let big ships sail up to it
○ Good supply of drinking water
○ Its location meant that Singapore was the halfway point between India and
China. (Strategic Location that facilitated trade between major importers)
○ Was at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, which allowed ships to easily access
S’pore.

● Raffles asked for permission to set up a trading port as permission from the EIC.
● However, Singapore was part of the Johor-Riau Sultanate; only the Sultan of
Johor-Riau could grant the EIC permission to set up a trading port in S’pore.
Moreover, it was a vassal state of the Dutch
● When Sultan Mahmud passed away, only his younger son, Abdul Rahman, was
present. Since the older son, Tengku Hussein, was away for his marriage, Abdul
Rahman was appointed as Sultan.
 ● After Raffles knew more about the crowning of the Sultan, he decided to bring
Tengku Hussein, the actual heir of the late Sultan Muhmad Shah, to Singapore to
recognise him as the rightful Sultan.
● The Dutch were angry that the British had established a trading port in Singapore,
which was part of their sphere of influence.

Resolving Anglo-Dutch disputes over Singapore

- Despite hostility between the Dutch and the British, neither declared war on the other
- Government wanted to maintain good relations
- Recent European wars allowed the British to realise the importance of the Netherlands to
their defence and security
- After the wars, the Dutch borrowed heavily from Britain
- The Dutch did not want to be involved in more wars to damage their economy

1824 Anglo-Dutch Treaty

- British and Dutch settle their disputes
- Dutch withdrew objections to British presence in Singapore
- Malay Peninsula and East Indies (Indonesia) were divided into 2 spheres of influence
- British transferred Bencoolen to Dutch in exchange for Melaka
- Malay Peninsula and Singapore came under British sphere of influence
- Sumatra and all islands to the south of the Straits of Singapore were Dutch Influenced

1824 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance

- Treaty signed on 6 February 1819 did not give British full control over Singapore, only
allowing them to build a trading post
- Between Britain (Dr John Crawfurd) and Sultan Hussein
- British were given full control over Singapore
- Sultan and Temenggong got larger sums of money

Treaties
Treaty Who signed it? What was the Outcome of the
treaty

1819 Treaty - Sir Stamford Raffles - British were allowed to

- Sultan Hussein set up trading post in
- Temenggong Abdul southern part of
 Rahman island

1824 Anglo-Dutch Treaty - Representatives of - Dutch dropped legal

British government claims over Singapore
- Representatives of - Areas in the Malay
Dutch government Peninsula and the East
indies were separated
into Dutch and British
spheres of influence
- Achieved peace
between the British
and the Dutch

1824 Treaty of Friendship and - Dr John Crawfurd - British given control

Alliance - Sultan Hussein of whole of Singapore
- Temenggong Abdul
Rahman

What did The British do to develop Singapore between 1819 and

1826?
- Raffles signed 1819 Treaty, however, he was not the only person to help develop Singapore

Major William Farquhar

- Set up defence positions at the Singapore River and Government Hill, due to fear of a Dutch
attack to enforce claims over Singapore (note: this was before 1824 Anglo-Dutch treaty)
- Made Singapore a free port
- Fees were not collected from ships entering the port
- Taxes only imposed on a selected few products, such as Opium
- Attracted many people
- To raise funds to help fund Singapore, Farquhar went against Raffles orders and sold licence
for gambling and the sale of opium and liquor
- Using these funds, Farquhar set up the police force

Sir Stamford Raffles

- Based in Bencoolen, Sumatra from 1818 to 1824 (exchanged for Melaka to the Dutch in
1824)
- Only made three visits to Singapore during this period
- October 1822, Raffles realised that Farquhar had not developed the island the way he wanted
- With Lieutenant Philips jackson, raffles designed the Singapore Town Plan, allocated areas
to the respective ethnic groups
 - Shut down gambling dens (felt that gambling was harmful to population)

Dr John Crawfurd
- Appointed by Raffles as second Resident of Singapore
- Reintroduced gambling licences, sale of opium and liquor after Raffles left
- Maintained policy of free trade
- Played an important role in signing 1824 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance

Chapter 3: How did British rule and External

Developments affect Singapore as a port city?
My Slides: Actual Copy of MN1012023 BABU MONISH - Chapter_3_How_did_the_B…
My Notes: History Lesson Notes
(Tell Nikhilesh if you need access, It is probably the same as the slides)

How The British developed Singapore into a port city

Free Port Status

- Traders came in ships from different places and could trade freely with one another in
Singapore.
- Traders are not required to pay taxes for the goods they carried.
- Result: Singapore flourished

Administrative Changes
- Singapore went through many administrative changes
- Influenced its growth as a port city
- 1819-1823, all decisions regarding Singapore was made by Sir Stamford Raffles
(Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen)
- Placed under control of India after Raffles returned to England for good (June 1823)
- Singapore was formally transferred to the EIC (1824 to 1858)

1824-1858 1858-1867 1867-1942

In 1824, Singapore was Singapore came under Singapore became a Crown
formally transferred to the administration of the India Colony and was transferred to
EIC and came under British Office in London after the EIC the Colonial Office in London
control. In 1826, It became was dissolved in 1858. in 1867.
part of the Straits
Settlements together with
Penang and Melaka.

William Butterworth, Sir William Cavenagh, Sir Harry Ord, Governor of the
Governor of Straits Governor of Straits Straits Settlements
Settlements (1843-1855) Settlements (1859-1867) ⬇
⬇ ⬇ British government’s colonial
Government in British India Government in British India office in London
⬇ ⬇
British government’s Board of British government’s India
Control and EIC Directors in Office in London
London.

⬇=reported to

- The government in Singapore was struggling to manage the needs of the expanding
population and the increasing size of Singapore’s trade. At the same time, it had trouble
raising money to pay for better port facilities
- When the government wanted to impose taxes, the traders protested, they argued any
proposals to tax trade would affect Singapore’s free port status, which in turn would affect
their business.
- So, the government had to turn to taxing gambling, opium and liquor. Owners of gambling
houses were granted the right to collect taxes
- When gambling was banned in 1829, tax on gambling houses could no longer be collected.
- Greatly reduced the government revenue
- Insufficient money for improving conditions in Singapore for providing social services
- To make up for this shortage, the EIC supplied the Singapore government with money. This
changed in the 1830s when the EIC lost its dominant control of trade with China as the
British government opened up to other British traders.
- As EIC founded the settlements in Penang and Singapore to protect and promote China’s
trade, it lost interest in the Straits Settlements. The EIC prioritised maxing profits.
- Straits Settlements being run at a loss
- Cut costs and refused to spend more money to improve the Straits Settlements
- Dismissed many officials and cut the pay of those who remained

Administration as a Crown Colony in 1867

- Allowed Singapore to enjoy nearly 75 years of peaceful administration

Law and Order

Crime
- Singapore's population was barely 150 in 1819 to about 6000 in 1821.
- Large numbers of settlers continued to come to Singapore thereafter
 - Census in 1911 showed that there were 57 languages spoken by the population
- Influx of migrants and growth in trade meant more murders, robberies and other crimes
- Maintaining Law and Order was a challenge

Police Force
- In 1820, William Farquhar made his son in law, Francis James Bernard the chief police
officer.
- Bernard had other duties - could not give his time and attention to police work
- Police force was very small, consisted of the chief police officer, a writer, a jailor in charge
of prison, a European Sergeant and eight Asian policemen
- Hardly enough to keep the peace in a population of a few thousand settlers
- Police force remained small and weak
- In 1843, some European and Asian traders in Singapore called a public meeting to talk
about the inability of the small police force to maintain law and order.
- Traders wrote to governor to ask for a stronger police force
- As a result, Thomas Dunman was appointed as Deputy Magistrate and Deputy
Superintendent of Police in 1843, and as Singapore’s full time commissioner of police in
1857
- During his tenure, Thomas Dunman made the police force more appealing by fighting for
better working conditions and higher wages, which allowed him to attract better men into
the police force, enlarging it.
- Although Dunman’s men did their work well, it did not solve all problems.
- Rioters often outnumbered police in riots, which often made the government send soldiers
- By the time Dunman retired in 1871, he had achieved much by reducing gang robberies and
improving the quality and morale of police officers
- By the 1930s, telephones, motor cars and radio communications made the police force
more efficient
- Police force was about 2000 strong, unlike the small team it started with in the early
1820s. All these improvements made Singapore a safer and more peaceful place.

Labour Abuse of Coolies

- Sinkehs - Chinese migrants who came to Singapore
- Some had money to pay for their passage from China. When they arrived in Singapore, they
were free to take any job they found.
- Others who were too poor had to find a coolie agent to pay for their passages to Singapore
- The coolie agents then sold the coolies to employers, and the employers paid the coolie
agents a large sum of money, often more than the coolies passage itself.
- The coolies would have to work for free for a year or more to pay off their debts
- Coolie agents were tempted by huge profits, thus willing to obtain coolies through any
method possible, such as being tricked and kidnapped by coolie agents in China
- Conditions from the voyage to Singapore was very poor
 - Overcrowding and lack of food and water caused some coolies to die
- Locked up in houses that were cramped and unhygienic to prevent them from escaping
- Closely guarded by gangsters

Secret Society Problems

- Many of people from China found it useful to join a Secret Society
- Poor and uneducated young men
- Befriended by members of the secret society
- Helped them find work or lodgings
- Provided them with a sense of security and brotherhood
- If they were sick, the secret society would take care of them
- Although providing support to migrants, it was also the source of many problems
- Members often took part in gang robberies and fights
- Responsible for many riots
- Government took no steps to tackle this problem for a long time
- Until the 1870s, no British officials understood the various Chinese dialects
- Could not find out anything about the secret societies
Measures taken to handle Secret Societies: The Dangerous Society Ordinance
The dangerous society Ordinance:
- Gave singapore governor the power to banish migrants involved in dangerous secret
societies back to their homeland
- Effective because most Chinese migrants would be executed once they returned to their
homeland as it was during the Qing dynasty.
- Gave the government power to banish any society which proved to be threatening
- Helped to reduce the overall number fights by large-scale Secret Societies.

Prostitution
- There was an unbalanced ratio of men to women migrants as it was usually the man’s job
to leave and earn money for the family
- Working conditions were hard for male migrants, causing them to turn to smoking,
drinking, gambling and visiting brothels
- This caused a great demand for prostitutes
- Brothel Owners and traffickers potentially could make great profits.
- Many young female migrants from China were tricked into this when they came to
Singapore, being promised well-paid jobs and then sold to keepers of brothels to earn
money for them
Measures taken to handle Prostitution: The Po Leung Kuk
The Po Leung Kuk:
- Rescued many young girls from being tricked into prostitution
- Also provided shelter for those treated poorly as servants
Chinese Protectorate
- Only after transfer of Singapore to the colonial office in 1867 that the government made a
greater effort to control the Chinese population
- In May 1877, the Chinese protectorate, a government department was set up to tackle
problems such as labour abuses, poverty and prostitution among the Chinese community
- William Pickering - the first protector of the Chinese - HOD of Chinese protectorate
- The 1890 Dangerous Societies Ordinance gave the Governor power to banish migrants and
abolish any society deemed too dangerous
- The Po Leung Kuk rescued many young girls from being tricked into Prostitution and
provided shelter to those who were treated with poor living conditions as servants.

Piracy
- Attacked trading ships sailing between Singapore and Penang
- Ships travelling through the Straits of Melaka was often attacked by pirates, cargoes taken,
and travellers killed or sold as slaves
- Pirates could be seen attacking ships just outside Singapore’s harbour
- So, many traders stayed away, causing Singapore’s trade to suffer
- After many attempts, British and other European ships started patrolling the shores in the
1870s, making piracy less of a problem

Education (1819-1867)
- For most part of the 19th century, the British government provided little education and
healthcare services for the people in Singapore
- Governments lack of funds created a situation where social services were insignificant
- Many schools were established by Christian missionary groups and European traders and
were not government schools
- Chinese education, besides Singapore Institution (present-day Raffles Institution) was
almost non-existent

Education (1867-1942)
- Educational activities in Singapore grew
- Based on meeting the needs of British colonial administration
- Necessary to provide English education to create a supply of English-speaking clerks
- Christian missionary sponsored schools and Chinese schools had a free hand

Healthcare
- Government did not provide much healthcare
 - Before 1860s, Asian population suffered from malnutrition, overcrowding and poor
sanitation due to poverty
- High death rate among Asian population
- After becoming a Crown Colony in 1867, coordinated attempts were made to improve the
public health
- Public Health Department set up by government
- Improved housing condition, reduced living quarters in Chinatown
- Malaria committee to supervise draining of swamps and a modern water carriage sewage
system
- Quarantine Law in 1886 - passengers arriving in Singapore had to be checked by a doctor
- Those found with infectious diseases were isolated to prevent spread
- Despite this, the death rate was still higher than the birth rate
- Due to overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions in the town area
- Caused tuberculosis and cholera, which affected many workers that stayed in shophouses
- Poor understanding of diseases
- Mistrust for western medicine

Facilities
- New harbour built in 1852 (Keppel harbour)
- More space along river banks to build more warehouses for storing goods and coal
- New harbour had deep waters, allowing steamships and sailing ships to sail right up to it
- Sheltered from strong winds by two smaller islands; Pulau Brani and Pulau Blakang Mati
- Rapid opening of tin and rubber plantations
- Railway system built
- Causeway between Singapore and Johor built
- Machinery such as tractors, forklifts and cranes were used
- Docks, storehouses and machine shops built

What role did External Developments have on Singapore’s growth as

a Port City?

Suez Canal
- Ships travelling from Europe to Asia took at least 120 days
- After the opening of the Suez canal on 17 November 1869, it took only about 50 days
- This allowed people to save more in distance and time (lower shipping costs)
 - It increased the volume of ships passing through the Straits of Melaka and calling at the
port of Singapore to refuel and collect food supplies
- Straits of Melaka overtook Sunda Straits as the main route from Europe to the far east
- Increased use of steamships
- Enhanced Singapore’s role in the coaling station
- Made Singapore even more important as a coaling station

Tin and Rubber Industries

- Singapore was used as a port for Malayan tin and rubber to be exported to the world
- Growth of trade between Malaya and the Straits Settlements, especially Singapore
- Amount of tin produced in Malaya increased rapidly
- Malaya became 4th largest tin producer in the world
- Tin became most important item of trade among the imports and exports handled by
traders
- Brought in handsome profits
- Singapore also exported rubber in large quantities
- Motor car industry caused the demand of rubber tyres to increase
- Price of rubber skyrocketed due to insufficient rubber from Brazil and Africa

Great Depression
- Singapore was hit hard as its economy relied largely on overseas trade, especially export of
tin and rubber to the United States Market
- Tin and rubber prices dropped drastically
- Difficult to find jobs and make money
- Many unemployed people had to depend on friends or relatives
- Migrants had to return to homelands when their friends and relatives could no longer
support them
- To improve this, the government passed a series of laws from 1828 restricting the amount
of migrants entering Singapore, especially unskilled Chinese migrants.
- Arranged for large numbers of of unemployed Chinese and Indian migrants to return to
their homelands
- Exports from Singapore started increasing again in 1934
Chapter 4: What role did People in Singapore play
in its development as a port city from 1819 -
1942?

Migrants in Singapore
- People were flocking to Singapore within a few years of its founding.
- These migrants were from:
- Europe: Most in Singapore were British. Other Europeans included the Dutch, French,
Germans, Portuguese and Swiss.
- Arabia: Mostly from Hadhramaut in Southern Arabia (southeast of present-day Yemen).
Many came as traders.
- China: Most Chinese who arrived in Singapore were from the southern provinces of China.
- The Hokkiens came from Fujian, the Cantonese, Teochews and Hakkas from
Guangdong, and the Hainanese from Hainan Island
- India and Ceylon: (present-day Sri Lanka):
- India: Tamils from Madras (present-day Chennai) and Nagapattinam.
- Northern India: Punjabis and Sikhs from Punjab, Bengalis from Bengal, Gujaratis from
Gujarat and Parsees from Bombay (present-day Mumbai
- Ceylon (Sri Lanka): Tamils and Sinhalese
- The Malay Archipelago: From the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and Celebes
(present-day Sulawesi)

Why did Migrants come to Singapore after 1819?

Push Factors (unfavourable circumstances that motivate people to settle

elsewhere)

Poor Living Conditions

- Some experienced hunger and poverty. These problems were often brought by
overpopulation, natural disasters and conflicts.
- China, India and Southeast Asia were affected by unrest and instability by wars, rebellions
and lawlessness in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
- People worried about their own and their families safety
- Thus they left to seek more peaceful and prosperous lives elsewhere.
 Pull Factors (favourable conditions that attract people to move to a new
place)

Trade and Business Opportunities (better job prospects)

- There were many trading and business opportunities available in Singapore which attracted
people from Europe, India, China and neighbouring countries.
- The British needed to develop roads, bridges and other infrastructure to support the
increase in port activities and provide for the growing population who had started coming in
increasing numbers since Singapore’s founding.

Excellent Geographical Location

- Singapore served as a meeting point for traders from many parts of the world to stop and
replenish their fuel and food supplies.
- Numerous traders came to Singapore for many diverse goods that could be found and
traded. By exchanging or selling their goods, they could acquire what they wanted and return
home.

Free Port Status

- Traders did not have to pay taxes to trade.
- Traders made larger profits in Singapore than any other ports in the region
- Attracted traders to come to Singapore and trade goods

Free immigration policy

- Migrants could come and go as they pleased
- Not required to pay for immigrant passes and papers or apply for permission to enter or
leave Singapore (Migrants still had to possess a pass)
- Made it easier for people from India, China and surrounding regions to come to Singapore
- Traders could come as often as they liked for trade and business.
- They did not have to treat Singapore as their permanent home
- Planned to return to homelands after earning enough money

Different Occupations and Groups of Migrants

Entrepreneurs

Traders
- First group of people who came when Singapore was founded.
- Attracted to Singapore by favourable trade policies (free port status etc)
- Engaged in commercial activities along the Singapore river
 - Europeans set up agency houses
- The Bugis were also attracted by Singapore’s free port status

Street Traders
- Many different types (food traders, small scale farmers, fishermen and hunters)
- Food traders made up the largest group. They sold quick and cheap meals to coolies and
other workers.

Moneylenders
- As Singapore grew as an entrepôt, it attracted Indians skilled in trade, accounting, banking
and credit.
- These skills were in high demand due to commercial activities carried out in the port city
- Different groups of traders would borrow money from these moneylenders as very few
banks would lend them money. This contributed to Singapore’s commercial importance.

Labourers

Male Coolies
- Made up a large number of migrants.
- Many were Chinese men who had come to Singapore in the latter part of the 19th century
- Workers needed to load and unload goods in ports, so coolies provided much of the required
labour.
- Worked at various plantations in Singapore and Malaya
- Heavily involved in coaling, or the loading of coal into steamships (an essential service
required by major shipping companies)
- Coolies hard work helped Singapore’s reputation for efficiency
- More coolies were brought in as trade grew
- Also employed in construction work while others cleared land for plantations
- Employed as rickshaw pullers; played an important role in providing inexpensive means of
transport. (for a wide range of people including European businessmen, local street traders
and even school-going children)

Samsui Women
- Came from the Sanshui (Samsui in Cantonese)from the Guangdong province, China
- Female labourers
- Work they did was physically demanding
- Had to balance heavy pails of cement on the two ends of the stick slung across their
shoulders
 Convict Labourers
- Main source of labour from 1825 to 1873
- Indian convicts brought over by the British
- Tasked to clear jungles, sweep the streets, lay the earliest roads, tend to the towns gardens
and parks, and construct buildings

Craftsmen

Boatmakers
- Communities like The Bugis engaged in boat making
- Established a thriving shipbuilding industry
- Transporting goods along the Singapore River

Notes on Rubber Industry:

MN1012023 GOVINDARAJAN NIKHILESH - Template on rubber industry
Notes on Industrial Revolution & Suez Canal : The Industrial Revolution
Mindmap on Great Depression:
[Link]
Lg57HJIpKarvk-0
Slides on Industrial Revolution, Suez Canal and Great Depression:
Copy of MN1012023 GOVINDARAJAN NIKHILESH - Chp 5 [Link]

Chapter 5: Japanese Invasion of Singapore in 1942

Notes for TA4 10% PEEL: Reasons for British Defeat in 1942
Notes for TA4 About Similarity in PEEL: (Someone please add and give access to
everyone)

Reasons for Japanese Victory

Excellent Pre-War Preparations

1.1 The Japanese came up with excellent pre-war preparations, sending undercover spies before the
Japanese invasion to gather information about Singapore’s main defences and weaknesses for the
Japanese. The spies, disguised as barbers or tourists, found out that Singapore was geared for a
seaward attack, and focused on defending the East and South of Singapore by setting up big guns in
those areas facing the sea.
1.2 They also found out that Singapore had neglected setting up defences for the North Coast of
Singapore.

1.2 b The Japanese had also been able to rebuild the causeway the British had blown up to cross to
Singapore. General Percival had spread Singapore’s forces on the Northern Coast, due to not being
able to know where the Japanese would invade. The Japanese invaded their forces through a highly
concentrated attack on the Northwest, due to it being the narrowest. General Percival’s troops
stationed at the Northwest were not enough to be able to counter the concentrated and powerful
Japanese troops.

1.3 This information led to the Japanese exploiting Singapore’s lack of Northwestern defences, and
carrying out the attack from Southern Thailand, down Malaya, and along Singapore’s Northern
Coast. Singapore, who did not expect an attack from the Northern Coast, was caught by surprise.

1.4 Before the war, a research unit was sent to Singapore to gather information about Jungle
Warfare and how to train and prepare the troops.

1.4b Also found out British troops’ movements, location of fields… not trained in Jungle
warfare-research units in Japan.

1.5 Troops were given pamphlets to motivate them to be ruthless and to give them tips on Jungle
Warfare.

1.6 The Japanese had already taken control over Indochina and the South China sea, allowing them
to launch more attacks and supply their troops without interference from the British.

War Strategy
2.1 The Japanese mainly travelled through the western area of Malaya, such as Jitra and Alor Star.
As the British had built many ports and rubber plantations in that area, due to it being along the
Straits of Melaka, the Japanese could exploit the many roads in that area to get their bicycle
infantry through Malaya quickly.

2.2 General Yamashita had set up his headquarters in the palace of the Sultan of Johor. This gave
him a clear view of Northern Singapore from the five storey tower. Yamashita was also sure that
the British would not fire at the home of their old friend, the Sultan, making it a clever choice.

2.3 The Japanese were able to trick the British by bombarding the Northeast of Singapore, Palau
Ubin, this caused the British to move their troops, forces and precious supplies to the Northeast,
just as the Japanese wanted, so they could invade Singapore through the Northwest.
2.4 Japanese forces crossed the Straits of Melaka from the Northwest, where it was narrowest, as
the British troops were spread along Singapore’s northern coast, they were unable to combat the
Japanese’s highly concentrated army when they were invading Malaya.

2.5. There were many correct assumptions about the British strategy, allowing the Japanese to
easily counter their attacks.

Strong Japanese forces

Air superiority:
3.1 Buffalo fighters were no match for the Zero fighters and hence lost their air superiority, leading
to their defeat.
● The Zero fighters with their lighter airframe were faster.
● The Japanese had more modern planes than the British air force did
● Japanese air forces easily overcame the old and outdated Buffalo Brewster fighters Britain
had sent, mostly from WW1.
● More manoeuvrable than the British fighters
● The British also had most of their airfields

Disabling of the British airfields:

The Japanese air force was able to shoot down many of the slow British fighter planes.
The Japanese raided and destroyed Sembawang airfield in Singapore, disabling the air force in
Singapore.

Army superiority:

Well trained
The Japanese infantry was trained in Hainan, and were able to cope with the Tropical heat and
Jungle warfare.

Well armed
They were also able to take British supplies that the British had left behind in an attempt to retreat,
making their military significantly stronger after every minor battle.

Good Morale
They believed that surrender was a dishonour and were willing to fight to the death, influenced by
Japanese propaganda that it was their duty to die for their country. They also believed that their
souls would go to heaven if they died on the battlefield.
The Japanese, unlike the British, were willing for their tax money to be used for military efforts. The
locals were willing to buff up their military equipment and training, along with using the money to
create special research units.

In conclusion, the strong Japanese army, imbued with zeal for their country, caused them to fight
valiantly. Their army was well-supported by their air force, equipment, and their community, which
allowed them to easily take down the British’s weaker forces and less buffed by their community
military, resulting in British defeat.

Naval Superiority:
The Japanese managed to attain naval superiority by taking down Force Z. This enabled the
Japanese to support their infantry in many different ways.

Fake attack + British Blunders

4.1 The Japanese bombarded the northeast of Singapore heavily and attacked Pulau Ubin

4.2 This tricked the British to move troops to the Northeast, just as the Japanese wanted

4.3 The Japanese then crossed the Straits of Johor in the Northwest where there was less military
there.

4.4 General Percival’s plan to withdraw from the Kranji - Jurong line to the city centre were
misunderstood.

4.5 The Japanese managed to make quick repairs to the Causeway, which the British had blown up,
allowing the Japanese to move troops (bicycle infantry) across quickly,

Reasons for British defeat in 1942

PROBLEMS WITH THE BRITISH AIR FORCE

(a) The British air force was insufficient and lacked quality as the British air force was composed of
buffalo fighter planes which were aged and outdated. On the other hand, the Japanese army was
mainly composed of modern Zero fighter planes, with experienced pilots, resulting in the
destruction of many British planes and them being unable to sufficiently defend against the
Japanese.
(a)(ii) The pilots were also given minimum equipment and training.
(a)(iii) This made the weak British air force succumb to the Japanese’s modern fighter planes, which
allowed the Japanese to take control of the skies, which gave them a major advantage in the battle
of Singapore.
(b)
(c)(i) The British also had more planes lost on the ground, with 60 lost on the first day.
(c)(ii) The British only sent 51 hurricanes to Malaya, all disassembled. They were also fitted with 12,
instead of 8, Machine guns, which increased drag and weight, making them slow to climb and
unwieldy to manoeuvre
(c)(iii)Many British planes had to resort to Kamikaze to defend Singapore against the Japanese.

PROBLEMS WITH THE BRITISH ARMY

(b)(i) Some of the British forces were not motivated or did not feel that it was necessary for them
to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the defence of Singapore or Malaya. Only a small handful of
the British forces felt willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the British’s colonies.
(b)(ii)The British forces also had a variety of soldiers from different countries, such as Britain and
India, which may have caused a language barrier and a lack of coordination when they were
attacking.
(b)(iii) The British forces were also not well trained for Jungle Warfare, compared to the
experienced and battle hardened Japanese forces, which, despite the British troops’ numerical
superiority, ended with the Japanese victory.
(b)(iv) There were not enough commanders to lead the British army; with only General Aurthur
Percival leading the military, and he had never led such a diverse and large army into battle despite
his experience.

FAILURE OF THE SINGAPORE STRATEGY

(c) The Singapore strategy was flawed and unrealistic as it was assumed initially that the situation in
Europe would be peaceful, thus Britain would be able to send a large fleet of warships over to
Singapore to aid with war, while the naval base in Sembawang held off the enemies. However, due to
Britain’s involvement in other war fronts, namely the European theatre of war, the North African
campaign and countering Operation Barbarossa, it was unable to spare a lot of forces for the
defence of Singapore as it needed all defences for itself. This meant that most of the forces that
Britain could spare for Singapore were lacking in number and quality. Since the Singapore strategy
heavily relied on large numbers of troops and British naval warships to be able to arrive to defend
their vast territories, the Singapore strategy was ineffective due to the lack of the necessities for
success.
(c)(ii) The British, thinking that an attack from Northern Singapore would be difficult for the
Japanese to land in due to the dense jungles of Malaya, only planned and sent guns that were
effective against a seaward attack from Sembawang, the South, and the East of Singapore. The
guns, although they were able to point towards the inland areas, were not loaded with the correct
ammunition for firing at the Japanese Soldiers.

PROBLEMS WITH THE BRITISH NAVY

d) (i) When Force Z sailed to Kuantan, the suspected location of the Japanese, HMS Repulse and
HMS Prince Of Wales were spotted by the Japanese Air force and were sunk, causing the British to
utterly lose naval control and power in the Southeast Asia region, giving the Japanese an advantage
of the sea.
d) (ii) Force Z comprised only two battleships and a small number of warships, making the naval
force weak and unable to effectively defend against the Japanese.
d) (iii) The British destroyed the naval base to prevent its facilities from being used by the enemy.
The loss of this naval base was one of the greatest military setbacks ever suffered by the British.
This made the navy in Singapore significantly weaker, which resulted in the Japanese achieving naval
superiority and control over the sea around Singapore.

Test
- Reasons for British Defeat
- You will be given 2 points:
a)_____________________
b)_____________________
- Write 2 PEELs
- 10 mins - 1st PEEL
- 10 mins - 2nd PEEL

A possible question: Why was Singapore poorly defended by the British air force?
(Don’t infer anything)
Example of a point: Weak Navy
Example for P: Flawed
Pre-War defence plans

These examples could be used for both points.

For Singapore Strategy
Prepared for a seaward attack
The British were only prepared for a seaward attack from the Japanese, with their naval base and the
guns set up in the South and the East.
15” guns
Along Sentosa (Southern)
Northern was under defended as the British believed that the Malayan jungles were dense enough
for a natural defence as they would be able to deter the Japanese.

THE BRITISH WERE SCARED

(e) The British could not place troops in Southern Thailand due to fear of offending the Thai
government, which made it easy for the Japanese to invade by landing in Southern Thailand and
Northern Malaya.

POINT: British pre-war defence plans were flawed

POINT: The british army was poorly trained and did not have the proper
equipment , were no match for the Japanese army.
POINT: the british navy was almost non-existent
BRITISH WEAK AIR FORCE loss of superiority to japs
SG AIRFORCE COMPRISED
They were nicknamed flying coffins
British keeps more modern planes - the Hurricanes in

Most of the fighters were destroyed and the rest evacuated to the Dutch East indies
and Australia
The airfields were not protected in Malaya by sufficient troops
The unprotected Airfields in Malaya were captured by the Japanese who used them
to attack Singapore.
Sembawang Airfield was heavily raided and damaged by Japanese bombers

Explanation
The slow-moving Buffaloes meant that they were easily

Point A: Britain was fighting in the European theatre of war and could not give its attention to the
war in Singapore. (North African Campaign, German invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation
Barbarossa), German invasion (bombing) of Britain (The Blitz) )

Point B: Britain did not want to send a powerful fleet of warships to Singapore due to the Nazi
Germany and the subsequent outbreak of World War II in Europe.

Point C: Britain had an outdated air force and could not defend Singapore well, in addition, the
British sent few anti-tank guns and tanks due to them believing that tanks will be hard to use in the
rough and dense vegetation of the Malayan jungles.

Point D: Britain was exhausted by World War I and the public was unwilling to keep up Military
spending to defend Singapore after a horrible experience of the war, hence, they were not able to
maintain a large permanent military force to protect its colonies in Singapore.

Point E: Britain pre-war defence plans were flawed.

Point F: The British army was poorly-trained and no match for the Japanese army.

Point G: Britain’s weak air force led to loss of air superiority against the Japanese.

Point H: The British army was almost non-existent, and the soldiers in the British army came from
many different parts of the British empire, such as India, Britain and Australia, which may have led to
cultural differences and made it harder to synchronise with the different troops when planning and
executing strategies.
1.1 They were nicknamed the flying coffins.”’
1.2 Britain kept the more modern planes - the Spitfires in Europe, Britain or the motherland to
defend itself against Nazi attacks.
1.3 There were not enough planes sent to Singapore.
1.4 Winston Churchill had promised to send more planes to Singapore but they only arrived after
Singapore fell.
1.5 Most of the fighters were destroyed and the rest evacuated to the Dutch East Indies and
Australia.
1.6 The airfields were not protected in Malaya by sufficient troops.
1.7 The unprotected airfields in Malaya were captured by the Japanese who used them to attack
Singapore.
1.8 Sembawang Airfield was heavily raided and damaged by Japanese bombers.

Explanation:
1.10 The slow-moving Buffaloes meant that they were easily shot down by the fast-moving
Japanese zero fighters.
1.11 The evacuation of the planes out of Singapore meant that the British had given up on defending
Singapore, and considered it as already lost to the Japanese, hence focusing on defending Australia
and the Dutch East Indies instead.

REMEMBER FOR EXAM USE THE PHRASE “MEANT THAT” TO EXPLAIN REASONS

SBQ COMPARISON SKILL

SIMILARITY
Step 1 Overarching idea from both sources
Correct way: Both Sources A and B are
similar in saying that (OI)...
(My Own Words; cannot lift/paraphrase
from source)

Wrong to write like this: Source A says

____________ and Source B also says
(NOT AN OVERARCHING IDEA) [Your
teacher does not want to see this:[0
marks]

Step 2 My own words of what the 1st source says

(p)

Source A tell us/ me that…(own words)

 Make sure there is a MATCH with the P
from source B /(the next source)

Step 3 Give SE (source evidence) from 1st source

(very, very briefly)

Start with: This is evident/ seen in “........”

Step 4 Explanation of SE from 1st source (very,

very briefly)

This means … (Do not repeat same words

in P)

Explaining the 2nd source

Repeat Step 2 Start in my own words:

Similarly, Source B shows that … (P in my

own words)
Warning : Make sure there is a MATCH with
first P, keep it succinct)

Repeat Step 3 Give SE (Source evidence) from 2nd

source
This is evident / seen in “...”

Repeat Step 4 Explanation of SE from 2nd source (very,

very briefly)

This means … (Do not repeat same words

in P)

Structure

Red: First Source Green: Second Source

Overarching Idea (OI)
Own words
Point

Evidence This is seen in “ “

Explanation This means “ “

Point Own words

Evidence This is seen in “ “

Explanation This means “ “

*TWO Similarities in EOY exam (Structure x2)
(One only get 5m (if all correct))

Useful extra resources

History
History Comparison Notes
5 big reasons for British Defeat in 1942 (Aidan Chong, Elliot, and Rishabh)
History notes
Reasons for British Defeat in 1942
Reason for Japanese Victory during World War II (Invasion of Singapore and Malaya)
Reasons for British Defeat in World War II (Invasion of Singapore and Malaya)
Summary of Hist syllabus
History SBQ comparison notes
Industrial Revolution
History Chapter 3 slides

History mind maps

History Answer for 2023 TA4
History Lesson Notes
2023 Format of Year 1 EOY Section A