HIST chap 3 Flashcards
What are the six areas that contributed to making Singapore a port city with extensive trading networks to all parts of the world?
Freeport status, facilities, healthcare, education, law and order, administrative changes.
How did the British colonial government impact Singapore’s growth as a port city between 1819 and 1942? Write in DEXA format.
R1: Free port status.
Singapore’s free port status was the key factor that attracted traders from all over the world, as they did not need to pay taxes on the goods they carried. Much of Singapore’s trade was centered around transshipment and entrepôt trade and was able to provide an easily accessible, tax-free, and centrally located place for both Asian and European traders to be collected and exchanged The free port status led to an increase in trade opportunities and business opportunities for the local merchants as they could provide these repackaging services for the traders. positive impact
R2: Administrative changes.
With the entrance of the British, Singapore went through many changes in terms
of administration. Sir Stamford Raffles left Singapore to return to Bencoolen and the control of the country was under Lieutenant General William Farquhar. Singapore was then transferred to the East India company
between 1824-1858.
These administrative changes led to an increase in the population of Singapore as more migrants settled down, increasing the diversity in Singapore’s population. There was also an increase in the volume of trade under the administration of EIC, which increased the profits and revenue of the country, and therefore, brought upon a positive impact.
From 1858-1867, the British government in
India had been transferred control over Singapore. However, as the Straits Settlements were being run at a loss, the government began to cut costs and lost interest in the Straits Settlements. It dismissed many officials to reduce their number and cut the pay of those who remained. Finally, from 1867-1942, Singapore was put under the direct control of the Colonial office (British gov in London).
All these administrative changes led to the decrease in quantity of manpower and quality of civil service. This caused inability to resolve challenges faced by the increasing population, and an increase in social disorder such as law and order problems, crimes, secret societies, and prostitutions. These outcomes result in a severe decrease in QOL and SOL (Standard of Living), brining about a negative impact.
R3: Facilities.
In 1850s, Singapore faced a series of improvements of its port facilities, along with the expansion of trade and the arrival of steamships. By this time, the Old Harbour at the Singapore River became overcrowded. Hence, in 1852, New Harbour was built in between the straits between the southern coast of Singapore and two smaller islands- – Pulau Blakang Mati and Pulau Brani. In 1913, the Singapore Harbour Board was set up to modernise the port to cope with rising demand for rubber and tin in Singapore and Malaya plantations. Finally, to further support trade, a new railway system and the Causeway (between Singapore and Malaya) was also set up to link parts of Malaya to Singapore.
Collectively, all these changes improved the services provided to ships that called at the port. The New Facilities to Singapore as the port facilities expanded due to an increase in trading activities, leading to the increase in economic growth of Singapore. Moreover, there was an increase in facilities would help to make Singapore one of the busiest and most prosperous ports in Asia. The economic prosperity resulted in an increase in SOL and QOL, bringing abut positive impacts for Singapore.
R4: Education.
Before 1867, The British did not prioritise education as most of the population
were migrants who were more interested in making money before returning
home. Furthermore, the British did not control English or vernacular education (education conducted in the native languages such as Malay, Chinese or Tamil). The British also provided free primary schooling in Malay language very few Tamil-language schools were established by the government and none were catered for the Chinese population. The establishment of schools was mostly left to the efforts of various Christian missionary groups and Europeans traders.
These education policies led to fewer educational opportunities for children to learn, and the lack of quality education that catered for the needs of the local people, bringing abut an overall negative impact.
However, due to Singapore’s rapid socio-economic development after 1867, there was a growing need for English-speaking clerks in the government and companies. Therefore, the British government provided grants to schools that taught English to students. As for education that did not directly support trade and government administration, it was left to non-governmental agencies. This had 2 majot consequences. Firstly, it led to the growth of many Chinese schools run by the Chinese community from 1911 onwards. They did not tolerate any interference from the government. Secondly, schools established by Christina Missionaries were given a free hand in how they were run.
All of the education policies after 1867 collectively led to an increase inn education opportunities and an increase in skilled workers, resulting in increased economic growth. Moreover, there was an increase in QOL and SOL of the locals as they were able to receive education and get better-paying jobs, bringing about a positive impact. However, despite the improvements in the educational provisions by the government, there was a distinct lack of quality education that directly catered to the needs of the locals.
R5: Healthcare.
In 1887, the government set up the Public Health Department to tackle health issues in the town area:
-> The gov set up a malaria committee to supervise the draining of swamps, replacing the bucket system with a modern sewerage system and clearing dirty streets and drains.
-> They also improved housing conditions, such as reducing overcrowding in living quarters in Chinatown.
A new General Hospital was built on Outram Road in 1882 to provide some form of public healthcare. Moreover, to prevent infectious diseases such as small pox and cholera from spreading, a quarantine law was passed in 1886. Passengers arriving in Singapore by sea had to be checked by a doctor and those found to be suffering from infectious diseases were isolated.
These healthcare policies led to increases in the quality of healthcare for locals, spread of diseases and illnesses, and in the QOL and SOL of people due to better health conditions, bringing abut an overall positive impact.
However, gov efforts to improve healthcare was insufficient. Many workers preferred to stay in shophouses in the town area which were often overcrowded, unsanitary an poorly ventilated. This led to the spread of highly contagious diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera, which affected many of these workers. Moreover, there was a poor understanding of certain diseases in the 19th century and most Asians did not seek treatment due to the lack of money or a mistrust of Western medicine.
The insufficient healthcare policies led to a continued spread of diseases and illness and higher death rates of locals, especially the poor, bringing about an overall negative impact.
What is Transshipment?
Transshipment is the transfer of goods from one ship to another while in transit at the port.
What is Entrepôt?
Entrepôt trade refers to the importing and re-exporting of the same goods after repackaging.
What is a government?
A government is a group of people who have the power to rule a country/territory.
State the challenges faced by the Chinese immigrants (law and order) who came to Singapore.
> Abuse from employers/coolie agents.
Lack of sense of belonging.
Loneliness
Give examples of the solutions to the abuse that the Chinese immigrants faced, and the inability to maintain the law and order.
A government department called the Chinese Protectorate was set up to tackle the problems of secret societies, poverty, prostitution and coolie abuses among the Chinese community. The Chinese protectorate helped to control the coolie trade by registering coolie agents and providing lodging for the coolies. The gov also pushed through a law to suppress dangerous societies. Finally, the protectorate also set up a department called ‘Po Leung Kuk’, which rescued many girls from being sold to brothels. It also provided shelter for those who were poorly treated servants. However, the C.P. could not reduce the power of the secret societies. Fights continued to break out occasionally and the abuse of coolies and women still continued, partly because some coolies and women did not come forward to seek the help of the protectorate.
Give examples of the solutions to the lack of sense of belonging that the Chinese immigrants faced, and the inability to maintain the law and order.
The majority of the Chinese immigrants who came to Singapore were poor and uneducated. Far from their families and friends, they felt lonely and helpless. Hence, secret societies would befriend them and provide places for lodging. This would make the immigrants join the secret societies as well. Moreover, when members became sick, the secret society would take care of them, and when members died without anyone to bury them, the secret societies would arrange a proper burial for them.
However, Despite the support they provided to the migrants, secret societies were also a source of problems. They contributed to social unrest- they were responsible for many riots. Up to 200 members of secret societies would also take part in armed robberies in the homes of the rick. Mant gang fights also broke out, as the secret societies would fight for the control of territories and illegal vice trades such as gambling and prostitution
Give examples of the solutions to the loneliness that the Chinese immigrants faced, and the inability to maintain the law and order.
The Chinese protectorate set up a department called ‘Po Leung Kuk’ which rescued many girls from being sold to brothels. Moreover, the 1890 Dangerous Societies Ordinance gave the governor the power to banish Chinese migrants and abolish any societies deemed too dangerous.
However, there was an increase in human trafficking with more women forced to work in brothels. Gambling addictions also increased, resulting in more crimes committed. Others who were addicted to opium went on to develop diseases.
Explain all the external developments that led to the growth (+ive, -ive) of Singapore as a port city. DEXA
1: The opening of the Suez Canal.
The Suez Canal was opened on 17 Nov 1869 for ships travelling between Europe and Asia to travel. The cape route took 120 days for a journey from London to Singapore via the Cape of Good Hope route. However, the Suez route took 50 days for the same journey from London to Singapore. Moreover, the Straits of Melka overtook the Sunda Straits as the main trading route from Europe to the Far East.
This event enabled Singapore’s growth as a port city due to the decrease in travelling time, which meant a decrease in shipping costs from the decreased distance of travel as well. Moreover, there was an increase in the volume of ships to Singapore which increased the dominance of Singapore as a port in the region. This increased the role of Singapore as a coating station due to the increased use of steamships.
2: Expansion of tin and rubber industries.
The spread of British control to parts of Malaya after 1874 led to peaceful conditions which facilitated the development of tin mining and the tin trade. Moreover, with new methods of mining and new machinery, the amount of tin produced in Malaya increased rapidly. European and Chinese traders also realised that they could make a fortune from the rubber boom by providing capital to open rubber plantations in Malaya. The Singapore Chamber of Commerce established a Rubber Association, which organised the sales of rubber in Singapore and made it an international rubber market.
The expansion of rubber and tin industries enabled the growth of Singapore as a port city due to the increase in exports of rubber and tin, leading to an increase in profits, and resulting in an increase in popularity as the largest tin/rubber producer in the world.
3: The Great Depression.
In the 1930s, Singapore was hit by the Great Depression. By 1929, many companies were losing money as they were unable to sell their goods. Therefore, many decided to sell their shares causing the market to collapse. This was also known as the Wall Street Crash. Moreover, those who borrowed money to buy shares had to sell belongings to pay the banks what they owed, so they tried to withdraw their savings from the banks. However, the banks did not have enough to pay them and were forced to close down. Many people lost their savings. With economic hardship, spending on goods fell drastically. Companies closed down as a result and their demand for commodities such as rubber and tin dropped.
The Great Depression did not enable the growth of Singapore as a port city due to the fact that Singapore’s economy was dependent on the world’s economy. Therefore, the decrease in demand for tin and rubber would lead to a decrease in trade activities around the world, leading to an increase in companies retrenching workers, resulting in an increase in unemployment rates around the world, including in Singapore.
