History chap 6 (till pg 14!) Flashcards
What are the three ways the Japanese impacted Singapore?
Political, social, economic
How did the Japanese maintain control in Singapore? (points, fear etc.)
- gaining support from the people
- eliminating those who opposed their policies/opposition/threatened their power
- using fear, intimidation, death and suffering ↓
~ locals were too afraid to oppose
~ locals discontented but afraid to oppose
What are some of the Japanese policies? (points)
~ Meting out harsh punishments
~ Imprisoning allied soldiers
~ Carrying out Operation Sook Ching
~ Coercing the Chinese business community
What are some of the policies the Japanese used to win the loyalty of the people? (points)
~ Using propaganda
~ Providing benefits for the locals
~ Imposing the Japanese Culture, teaching the Japanese language, cultivating the Japanese spirit
What was the daily life of people like under the Japanese occupation? (points)
~ Dealing with shortages
~ Disease and death of POWs (prisoners of war)
~ Relocation of locals
~ Leisure and entertainment activities
DEXA: How did the Japanese maintain control in Singapore? only have 1 dexa. (Meting out harsh punishments)
The Japanese maintained control in Singapore by meting our harsh punishments. Harsh punishments were imposed on criminals and other people, seen by the Japanese as enemies. To put an end to looting, the Japanese executed those who were caught looting. The heads were displayed publicly in places such as the open area outside the Cathay Building. Such harsh punishments served as severe warnings to people about the potential consequences of going against the Japanese. Additionally, the Japanese military police, known as the Kempeitai, arrested those suspected of being anti-Japanese. Food or cash rewards were offered to encourage people to inform the authorities of any suspected anti-Japanese activities. The anti-Japanese would be beaten or tortured until they revealed information that the Japanese wanted. Over time, the locals learnt to keep quiet and not appear disobedient so as not to draw unwanted attention. This led to a negative outcome for Singapore and its locals, as it increased the locals’ fear of the potential consequences and increased suspicion among people as they trusted each other less. This allowed the Japanese to maintain control of Singapore by eliminating those who opposed their policies and instilling fear in the locals such that they were too afraid to oppose them.
DEXA: How did the Japanese maintain control in Singapore? only have 1 dexa. (Imprisoning allied soldiers)
The Japanese maintained control in Singapore by Imprisoning Allied soldiers. They imprisoned the British, Australians, and Allied Europeans in Singapore, including women and children. The Allied prisoners of war were forced to march in public from Bukit Timah Road to Changi Prison or the barracks nearby. This served as a warning to people that anyone who was against the Japanese would be imprisoned or executed. However, civilians would pass the POWs food and money despite the risk of being punished by the Japanese. This led to a negative impact on Singapore and its locals as it led to an increase in compassion amongst the people in SG and a decrease in the trust of the people towards the British. This allowed the Japanese to maintain control of Singapore by instilling fear in the locals such that they were discontented but were afraid to oppose them.
DEXA: How did the Japanese maintain control in Singapore? only have 1 dexa. (Sook Ching)
The Japanese maintained control in Singapore by carrying out Operation Sook Ching. Operation Sook Ching was carried out to identify and eliminate anti-Japanese elements among the local population. It was a brutal purge where the kempeitai were placed in charge of this operation. The Chinese population was the main target as the Japanese viewed them as a source of opposition and threat to their rule. This was due to the strong resistance faced when they were invading China in 1937. Chinese overseas also boycott Japanese goods and contributed to China’s efforts against Japan. During the operation, the Japanese required all Chinese men aged 18 to 50 to assemble at mass screening centres like the YMCA building ar stanford road to be examined by them (Japanese). Informants would identify people who were suspected of being anti-Japanese and pass on the information to the Kempeitai. Those who were not identified would receive a stamp on a piece of paper, clothing, face, arm or shoulder, which meant that they have been examined and they could go home. This served as a warning for people to not go against the Japanese rules. This brought about negative/psitive impacts to Singapore and its locals and led to an increase in resistance and suspicion amongst the Chinese population. Moreover, there was a decrease in the potential opposition towards the Japanese, and increased the number of lives lost. This allowed the Japanese to maintain control of Singapore by eliminating those who threatened their power and instilled fear in the locals such that they were too afraid to oppose the Japanese.
DEXA: How did the Japanese maintain control in Singapore? only have 1 dexa. (Coercing Cbc)
The Japanese maintained control in Singapore by coercing the Chinese business community. The Japanese targeted Chinese businessmen in Singapore because of their generous contribution to the China Relief Fund, which supported China’s resistance against Japan. The Overseas China Association was created to act as an channel of communication between the Chinese community and the Japanese government. The Japanese demanded a gift of 50 million Strait dollars to the Japanese administration. This served as a punishment to the Chinese community in Malaya and Singapore for supporting the anti-Japanese war activities in China as well as British war efforts in Malaya. This led to a negative impact on Singapore and its locals and led to a decrease in the loyalty of the Chinese businessmen and a decrease in the opposition of the Chinese businessmen towards the Japanese. It also led to an increase in hatred of the Chinese businessmen towards the Japanese and an increase in fear of the Chinese businessmen towards the Japanese. This allowed the Japanese to maintain control of Singapore by instilling fear in the locals such that they were discontented but afraid to oppose the Japanese.
DEXA: How did the Japanese win the loyalty of the people? only one dexa. (using propa…)
The Japanese won the loyalty of the people by using propaganda. Propaganda was used to influence the minds of the people in Singapore and gain their loyalty. They also tried to convince the locals to accept their vision of the Greater East-Asia Co-prosperity Sphere. This vision also pressed for a united Asia that would benefit from sharing resources collectively. Messages were spread through various channels like posters and radio channels. The Japanese also promised to help the Indian community to free India from the British. The Indian National Army (INA) led by Subhas Chandra Bose, was formed with the Japanese support to recruit Indians to fight against the British in India. This allowed the Japanese to be portrayed as liberators who would help the locals free themselves from the colonial masters and seen as trying to help the locals. Using propaganda led to both positive and negative outcomes for Singapore and its locals. The positive outcomes included an increase in the political awakening of the locals. This allowed the Japanese to maintain control of Singapore by gaining support from the people. However, the negative outcomes included a decrease in freedom of speech and thought and an increase in distrust of the different races. Moreover, all the achievements and successes of the country were credited to the Japanese leadership during the rule, and locals could not question the Japanese. This allowed the Japanese to maintain control of Singapore by instilling fear in the locals such that they were discontented but were too afraid to oppose the Japanese.
DEXA: How did the Japanese win the loyalty of the people? only one dexa. (benefits)
One way the Japanese won the loyalty of the people would be by providing benefits to the locals. The Japanese provided benefits like schooling and accommodation at no cost. They also appealed to some ethnic groups by giving them favorable treatment. For instance, Kesatuan Melayur responded positively to the Japanese propaganda that promised better lives for Malays under an Asian power. Another example would be the Japanese charging lower fees for the Malays and Indians as compared to the Chinese to cross the causeway. This led to a positive outcome as the Malays and Indians were treated less harshly by the Japanese and both races had an increased quality of life and standard of living. There was also an increase in the loyalty of the Malays and Indians towards the Japanese. This allowed the Japanese to maintain control of Singapore by gaining support from people.
DEXA: How did the Japanese win the loyalty of the people? only one dexa. (Japanese)
One way the Japanese won the loyalty of the people would be by imposing the Japanese culture, teaching the Japanese language, and cultivating the Japanese spirit. This was one way to promote the Japanese culture. Students were taught to speak and write in Japanese in Place of English. The lessons were conducted over the schools’ broadcasting services. Japanese education authorities also published a series of Nippon-Go readers for beginners which praised the beauty and greatness of Japan. Adults also had to learn Nippon-Go through attending language classes several times a week. Competitions, awards, extra rations, salary increments, and promotions were used to motivate people to learn the Japanese language. This led to a positive impact on Singapore and its locals as it led to an increased Japanese spirit of Japanese spirit of the Singapore population and an increase in support of the Singapore population towards the Japanese. This allowed the Japanese to maintain control of Singapore by gaining support from the people.
DEXA: How was the daily life of the people like under the Japanese occupation? ans in one DEXA (shortages).
The people had to deal with shortages under the Japanese occupation. Due to war, trade was disrupted hence there was a limited import of goods into Singapore from overseas. Most available resources were channeled to Japan’s war efforts rather than to the people. Essential food sites such as rice, salt, and sugar were strictly rationed. They had to use ration coupons to obtain a fixed quantity. The shortage drove the prices of essential goods upward, causing drastic inflation. The black market flourished as a result of this shortage as people had to pay extremely high prices for basic necessities. As a result, more money, banana notes, were printed causing massive drops in the value of money. By the end of the Japanese Occupation, the notes had essentially become worthless. This led to a negative impact on Singapore and its locals and led to an increase in hardship and struggle that the people faced and an increase in the number of cases of people who were malnourished which might have caused more to die of starvation. There was also a decrease in quality of life and standard of living and a loss of savings after the end of the Japanese occupation.
DEXA: How was the daily life of the people like under the Japanese occupation? ans in one DEXA (disease and death).
The prisoners of war faced diseases and death. Healthcare and sanitation were not the priority of the Japanese and worsened over time during the Japanese Occupation. Food shortages added to the weakness of the local population. The primary causes of death were beriberi, pneumonia, and dysentery. The civilians and prisoners of war faced harsh living conditions such as shortages of food medicine, and acute overcrowding in their prisons. The prisoners of war were used as forced labour where they were made to clear war damage, bury the dead and build Japanese memorial shrines. Many of them were also sent to work on the Siam-Burma Railway slo known as the “Death Railway”, where 16,000 died under horrific working conditions. This led to a negative outcome for Singapore and its locals and the disease and deaths led to poor hygiene increased spread of diseases, and a stretch of healthcare resources, therefore being unable to provide for those who were alive and still able to be treated. There was a decrease in the quality of life and standard of living of the local population and a decrease in confidence and faith in the Japanese government.
DEXA: How was the daily life of the people like under the Japanese occupation? ans in one DEXA (relocation).
The locals were relocated. People were encouraged to strive for self-sufficiency by growing their own food, which included vegetables, tapioca and sweet potatoes. However, this did not ease the food shortage issue and the Japanese resorted to relocating people from Singapore to rural areas outside Singapore to increase agricultural output. The Chinese were encouraged to move to the Endau settlement in Johor where the soil was rich and the water supply was ample. The settlement was a great success as it was self-sufficient with street lights, a hospital a small chapel, a bank and several coffee shops. After Endau, the Japanese created the Bahau settlement in Negri Sembilan for Eurasians and Chinese Roman Catholics. However, the settlement failed as the land was too hilly and the soil was too poor to support agriculture hence some people resorted to eating rats and maggots. This brought both positive and negative impacts to Singapore and its locals. The relocation of locals to the Endau settlement led to an increase in the amount of food provided for the people and an increase in quality of life and standard of living. The relocation of locals to the Bahau settlement led to a decrease in the amount of people food provided for the people and a decrease in quality of life and standard of living.
DEXA: How was the daily life of the people like under the Japanese occupation? ans in one DEXA (leisure activities).
The locals took part in leisure and entertainment activities. Radio programmes that consisted of Japanese songs, Malay music, and news in Hokkien and Cantonese. Other forms of entertainment included Japanese movies and documentaries in cinemas and open-air screenings of propaganda shows. Sports and cultural activities were also encouraged to reduce the stress of wartime conditions on the local populations with sports appearing almost every day in the media. Even the POWs tried to keep their spirits up by organising and participating in social, religious, and sporting activities. This led to a positive impact on Singapore and its locals as the leisure and entertainment activities led to the creation of a harmonious and happy society during the Japanese rule, a decrease in wartime stress, and an increase in quality of life and standard of living. The Japanese were also seen as inclusive and willing to help the local population.
Name policies which had a political impact on SG/the lives of the people. (1)
Imprisoning Allied Soldiers
Name policies that had a socio-political impact on SG/the lives of the people. (4)
Using propaganda, Carrying out Sook Ching, Teaching the Japanese language, leisure and entertainment activities.
Name policies which had a socio-economic impact on SG/the lives of the people. (2)
Coercing the Chinese Business Community, people dealing with shortages
Name policies which had a social impact on SG/the lives of the people. (5)
The Japanese meting out punishments, providing benefits to the locals, the disease and death of the POWs, cultivating the Japanese spirit, and the relocation of the locals.
