Chapter 3: Reasons for Coming to Singapore - Push Factors

Question 1

Why did people leave their homeland and move to other countries such as Singapore in the 19th and the early 20th centuries?or
Why would people want to leave their own homeland and settle elsewhere?

Answer 1

Poor living conditions in one’s homeland that forced them to look for a better life elsewhere. These people were experiencing a lot of hardship, i.e. poverty and starvation, i.e. they were experiencing hunger and could not earn enough money to feed their families. Also, their homeland was experiencing instability and unrest from wars, rebellions and lawlessness.

Question 2

What were the causes of the poor living conditions experienced by these people?

Answer 2

1. Overpopulation
2. Natural disasters
3. Wars
4. Rebellions
5. Lawlessness

Question 3

Define ‘overpopulation’.

Answer 3

A situation where the population becomes too large for the environment to support, resulting in shortages of land, food and other resources.

Question 4

What were the push factors for people coming / migrating to Singapore?

Answer 4

Poor living conditions, i.e. poverty and starvation caused by overpopulation and natural disasters.

Question 5

What were some other push factors for people coming / migrating to Singapore from the 19th to the early 20th century?

Answer 5

Unrest and instability experienced by many people in China, India and Southeast Asia.

Question 6

What were the causes of unrest and instability in China, India and Southeast Asia?

Answer 6

Wars, rebellions and lawlessness which made it difficult for the people to work or conduct business without worrying about their own safety and the safety of their family members / loved ones.

Question 7

List the push factors that motivated the people to leave their homeland to seek more peaceful and better lives in Singapore.

Answer 7

1. Poor living conditions caused by overpopulation and natural disasters which resulted in poverty and starvation.
2. Unrest and instability caused by wars, rebellions and lawlessness.

Question 8

List the push factors that caused people to leave their homeland to seek better and more peaceful lives in Singapore.

Answer 8

1. Poverty and starvation caused by overpopulation and natural disasters, e.g. overpopulation in Java and China, natural disasters in India;
2. Unrest and instability caused by wars, rebellions and lawlessness, e.g. wars in Java, rebellions, wars and lawlessness. clan wars as well as civil wars in China, wars and rebellions in India.