History Flashcards
Education: 1819-1867
- Limited government funds for education.
- Free Malay primary schooling only.
- Few subsidized schools, scarce language options.
- Christian missions and European groups managed education.
- English education not highly valued by many parents.
What are the pull factors of Singapore?
- Trade and Business opportunities
- Job opportunities
- (Relative) safety and stability
What caused the expansion of the tin industry
- British control in Malaya (post-1874) enabled peace and spurred tin mining and trade.
- USA’s canning industry growth increased tin demand.
- Technological advancements made Malaya the fourth largest tin producer globally by the 1890s.
- This boosted trade between Malaya and the Straits Settlement, notably Singapore.
What caused the expansion of the rubber industry
The rubber industry contributed to Singapore’s growth as a port city as rubber was a highly valued commodity that increased Singapore’s trade opportunities with the rest of the world.
Secret Societies: Why were these societies a problem?
● They participated in gang fights, robbery and were lawless
● They were responsible for riots
● Fought to control illegal vice trades- gambling and prostitution
Suitability of Singapore
- Singapore had a natural sheltered harbour
- Singapore had a good supply of drinking water
- Singapore’s location is at the southern tip of the Straits of Melaka (Which meant that Singapore could be a halfway port between India and China)
Healthcare: Reasons of Improvement
● Singapore’s economy generated sufficient funds for the government to spend on healthcare
● Increased awareness on the part of people leading to call for government to improve healthcare.
Elaborate on the pull factor 1: Trading and Business opportunities
- Singapore was a busy hub for goods from both the East and the West because it’s in a good spot on the map.
- It was like a central collection point for raw materials from Malaya and Singapore.
- Britain helped make the place better so it could handle all this busy trade.
Education: 1867-1942
- Education expanded for colonial purposes.
- Government grants for teaching English.
- Chinese schools run independently.
- Christian mission schools had autonomy.
- Resulted in a lack of quality education.
Dutch control of the spice trade
The Dutch were a dominant European power in Southeast Asia. The VOC has complete control over the trade of cloves, mace and nutmeg. After the Dutch took over Melaka in 1641, the main trade route now was in the Sunda Straits and Dutch ports became the key trading ports in Southeast Asia. By 19th century, Dutch’s control over waterways (Straits of Melaka and Sunda Straits), caused the Britidh to be confined to trading in Bencoolen.
Secret Societies Why were the government unable to deal with them?
● They knew little about them
● Only in 1870s were there British officials who could understand the many Chinese dialects.
● Police force consisted mainly of European officers, Indians and Malays who did not speak Chinese
● And hence could not discover more about them.
Why did the Chinese Migrants come to Singapore? (push factors)
WARS AND REBELLIONS
* Hong Xiuquan, a failed scholar candidate, believed himself to be the son of Jesus Christ
* Led a movement to overthrow the corrupt Qing Dynasty and establish the Taiping Tianguo (Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace) in China
* Despite achieving initial success, the rebellion was eventually crushed by the Qing Government
* Estimated 20 million to as high as 100 million dead
What Crawfurd do to develop Singapore as a settlement between 1819 and 1926?
- Crawfurd used convict labour to build roads. - Crawfurd signed the 1824 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, taking away native control of Singapore, entrenching the British firmly as the government of Singapore. - Crawfurd as “tight-fisted”, “fond of material wealth” and “impatient and of quick temper”. He was described as “cold and ruthless”.
How did the great depression affect Singapore
- Great Depression: Originated in the USA, impacting global trade partners like Singapore.
- Singapore’s Trade Reliance: Dependent on tin and rubber exports to the USA.
- Oversupply and Price Decline: Reduced demand led to surplus, causing sharp price drops in tin and rubber.
- Economic Fallout: Loss of wealth, layoffs, high unemployment, and increased hardship in Singapore.
Importance of India-China trade
By the late 18th century, much of India was under the control of EIC. Trade between China and India became a major source of income. Thus to protect this lucrative India-China trade, the british needed control of the straits of Melaka, which was initially controlled by the Dutch. Thus, a need to find places in Southeast Asia that was free from Dutch control.
Prostitution
● More males than females came from China.
● To escape hardship and loneliness they turned to opium, gambling and brothels.
● Many young Chinese girls were tricked into the trade.
● High demand for prostitutes → High profits for brothel owners and traffickers
Educational Opportuniities provided by migrants
- Addressing Education Gaps:
- Community efforts filled British-led education gaps.
- Inclusive and Diverse Schools:
- Schools for girls and Chinese education supported by wealthy traders.
- Diverse Initiatives:
- Various schools established by different organizations.
Law and Order: Police Force
● 1820 a chief police officer appointed (Francis James Bernard) but it was a small force and Bernard could not devote his time to developing it. Hence, maintaining law and order was challenging.
● 1834-European and Asian traders wrote to the Governor to ask for a stronger force.
● Thomas Dunman was the appointed Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Superintendent of police in 1843 and Singapore’s first full time Commissioner of police in 1857
