HIST chap 2 Flashcards
What is an empire?
An empire is an extensive group of states or countries ruled over by a single monarch, an oligarchy, or a sovereign state.
What were some spices that the British and the Dutch were competing for?
Cinnamon, cloves, Nutmeg, Mace.
What does a monopoly mean?
- The control of buying/selling spices
- No competition
- No other countries can break into the spice trade industry.
What is colonisation?
- A country under colonisation by another country do not have a full control over its own internal and external affairs.
- A colony is an area/country under full/partial political control of another country.
What are the internal affairs of a country?
Healthcare, Education, Law and Order (security), Trade.
What are external affairs?
Foreign Relations, Defence.
Why do some countries colonise others?
- To gain resources for themselves.
It brings about a positive impact as they are able to make use of the resources for their own development. - To gain a strategic advantage over their rivals.
It has a positive impact as it is able to compete successfully with its rivals in controlling trade.
Overall, colonisation brings about positive outcomes for the coloniser.
Why were the British interested in Singapore?/ Why was the intervention in Singapore important for the British? Write in DEXA.
R1: To break the Dutch monopoly of the spice trade.
Many areas in the Malay archipelago were under Dutch control. For example, after the Dutch took over Melaka in 1641, they shifted the main trade routes to the Sunda Straits. Dutch ports such as Batavia became the key trading ports in Southeast Asia, replacing Melaka.
This led to positive outcomes for the British as if they took over Singapore, they would be able to break the Dutch monopoly over spice trade and would have control over the Straits of Melaka which would be beneficial for them in terms of an increase in profit and revenue.
R2: The unsuitability of their other ports’ locations.
Bencooen was unsuitable as it was situated on the western side of Sumatra and not along the main trade route between Chia and India. Penang was also unsuitable as a trading port as it was too far from the main trade route as well. Singapore, on the other hand, was located along the Straits of Melaka and occupied a central point for traders from the west and east to meet and trade.
This led to positive outcomes as the British would be able to protect the lucrative India-China trade. This would bring in more trading and business, causing the economy to prosper, and therefore, contributing to the increase in business and trading opportunities.
R3 Suitability of Singapore.
Firstly, Singapore had a natural sheltered harbour, which could protect British ships from storms. Moreover, there was a good supply of drinking water, which would allow other ships travelling from other parts of the world e.g. India could replenish their water in Singapore during their stopover on the way to China. Additionally, Singapore was located at the Southern tip of the Straits of Melaka, meaning it was the central point for traders from the East and West to meet for trade. All of these could increase the trading activities in Singapore, which could result in a rise in profits.
How did the British establish a trading post in Singapore? Arrange the acts according to the extent of control, from little control to full control.
Raffles Plan
- Sir Stamford Raffles sought to increase British presence in Southeast Asia. He needed a port that would command the southern entrance of the Straits of Melaka.
Background of the Succession
- The late Sultan Mahmud Shah, ruler of Johor-Riau has 2 sons: Tengku Hussein (elder son and heir) and Tengku Abdul Rahman (younger son)
Death of Sultan
- Sutltan Muhamud passed away in 1812 and only Tengku Abdul Rahman was present Tengku Hussein was away.
Lack of support
- Those who supported Tengku Hussein were unhappy but they were powerless to do anything. Without a strong ally, Tengku Hussein decided to live quietly in Riau.
Raffles assistance to succession dispute
- Raffles learnt about the succession dispute and invited Tengku Hussein to Singapore. With the help of the Temenggong, Raffles secretly brought Tengku Hussein back to Singapore.
Tengku Hussein agreed to Raffles’ invitation
- Tengku Hussein saw Raffles’ invitation to come to Singapore as an opportunity to counter the Dutch’s support for the Bugis and Sultan Abdul Rahman.
1819 Treaty
- On 6th Feb 1819, Raffles recognised Tengku Hussein and the Temenggong which allowed the British to build a trading post in the southern part of Singapore island in a treaty.
Dutch’s response
- The Dutch were angry when they heard that the British were establishing a trading post in Singapore. They claimed that Singapore belonged to them since it was part of Johor-Riau.
1824 Anglo-Dutch Treaty
- It was signed between the British and Dutch to divide the Malay Peninsula and Eats Indies into two spheres of influence. Melaka and Bencoolen were exchanged.
1824 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance
- The British were given control over the whole of Singapore.
How Did Stamford Raffles contribute to the development of Singapore in terms of Political, Economic, and social aspects?
Political: Leadership: He oversaw the construction of the first few British buildings and set up education for the children. He also appointed people to set up bridges that could cross the Singapore River.
Economical: Increase trade: There are new settlers every day as he rounded an emporium.
Increase prosperity: He set up a botanical and experimental garden to cultivate cash crops to sell.
Social: Harmony amongst all: He assigned respective areas to different ethnic groups.
How Did William Farquhar contribute to the development of Singapore in terms of Political, Economic, and social aspects?
Political: Leadership: He developed Singapore from scratch without much resources from Raffles into a successful port.
LeadershipHe ensured that Singapore was well managed and introduced a lot of policies while Raffles was gone and he helped develop Singapore a lot.
Defence: Set up defence positions at the Singapore River and Government Hill with the help of 100 sepoys.
Economic: Increase trade: He placed a British Official on St John’s Island to inform passing ships about the new settlement and its free port, attracting traders and labourers to Singapore. This led to an increase in trade.
Social: Harmony amongst all: Farquhar mixed all the different races of people instead of segregating them.
Quality of Life: Introduced the first newspapers and streetlights. He placed a British Official on St John’s Island to inform passing ships about the new settlement and its free port, attracting traders and labourers to Singapore. This led to an increase in trade. This solved food shortage issues.
How Did John Crawfurd contribute to the development of Singapore in terms of Political, Economic, and social aspects?
Political: Defence: Signed the Treaty of Friendship and alliance with the Dutch.
Economic: Increase prosperity: Reintroduced gambling and the sale of opium to earn money for the development of Singapore.
Social: Harmony amongst all: Signed the Treaty of Friendship and alliance with the Dutch.
