colonisation

Why was it important for the EIC to have a trading port south of malacca?

Economic Power Struggle between the British East India Company (EIC) and the Dutch East India Company (VOC)

(VOC) FOR MONOPOLY OF TRADE ROUTES
(VOC) FOR PROFITS FROM THE TRADING OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN PRODUCTS

What made the Dutch ‘selfish”?

Monopoly - its definition (FULL CONTROL OR DOMINANCE OF E.G. GOODS, USE OF CERTAIN THINGS)

Dutch controlled most of the Malay Archipelago

Special goods only found in SEA - esp spices, scented wood

TRADING CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY THE DUTCH IN MAINTAINING THEIR MONOPOLY

European traders

Charged High port fees for use of port

Only allowed to trade in Batavia

High Taxes on goods sold or bought

They were harassed by the Dutch navy

Asian Traders

Every Asian trading boat must fly the Dutch flag (or else cannon ball ):

All needed a Dutch permit or pass (if not cannon ball):

Only allowed to trade at Dutch-controlled ports

Why was the British unhappy with the Dutch’s monopoly?

They only had two trading settlements at Penang and Bencoolen

Both places were too far away from the straits and produce islands

Could not break Dutch monopoly

Raffles had to look for a place South of Melaka

First advantage of singapore (hint, geography)

1. It was south of malacca, and held a strategic geographical location since it was south of Malacca, so it could control the Straits of Malacca when they go from India to China, and vice-versa. It could also be a stopover for ships going to China and India (as it was part of the trade route) and vice-versa. Furthermore, Singapore was much closer to the Moluccas and Celebes (strait produce islands) than either Bencoolen or Penang, thus had the ability to the central collection centre for the region.

Second advantage of singapore (hint, protection)

2. Safe harbour. The harbour was also naturally sheltered from strong winds. For example, the region that Singapore was located in experienced monsoons during certain times of the year, and the ships at the harbour were protected from strong winds south of Singapore by both Pulau Brani and Pulau Blakang Mati, as well as a mud bank(outer shoal).

Third advantage of singapore (hint, it has something to do with the harbour)

3. Superb harbour. The Singapore River had a naturally deep harbour where big ships were able to dock close to shore. Furthermore, being a natural river, it was able to wash up sediments from building up in the river and would make the river deep and self-cleansing.

Fourth advantage of singapore (hint, water)

4. Supply of drinking water. Ships travelling from all over the world could replenish their water supply in during long journeys. For example ships from india could replenish their water supply in Singapore during their stopover on their way to China. A freshwater spring could be found at Fort Canning (called Pancur Larangan or ‘Forbidden Spring’), unlike the swampy water found in Bencoolen or the brackish water in Malacca.

Details of the arrival of raffles and farquhar

The ship was named The Indiana and they landed in SG on 28 January 1819 in the mouth of the Singapore River.

Raffles was accompanied by William Farquhar and they met the Temenggong Abdul Rahman (an important person).

They were tasked by the EIC to establish a trading settlement in Singapore.

Long story short,

Tengku Hussein (actual heir to the throne of the Johor Empire)

Sultan Tengku Abdul Rahman (was supported by the Dutch and the Bugis Chiefs in Riau and made him the Sultan)

The sultan died in Pahang (which was the father of both people, the Tengkus’ id say)

Pahang (which was the place where their father died and where Tengku Hussein found a girl he loved and married her there)

The Dutch then controlled the Johor Empire

How did Raffles set up a trading port in Singapore? And also, how much were the two significant people paid and what was it about?

To avoid Dutch suspicion, Temenggong Abdul Rahman secretly invited Tengku Hussein to Singapore

The British recognised Tengku Hussein as the rightful Sultan of the Johor-Riau Empire

Obtained permission from Sultan Tengku Hussein to set up a trade settlement

9 days later (after his arrival) they signed The Singapore Treaty of 1819 on 6 February 1819

What was it all about?

It gave Britain the rights to build a trading settlement in the southern part of Singapore

Temenggong Abdul Rahman was paid an allowance of $3000 a year

Sultan Hussein was paid an allowance of $5000 a year

What were the reactions to the treaty?

The Dutch Government was angry at Raffles for raising tensions in Europe, but they didnt want to start war with the British due to them being on the verge of financial bankruptcy due to Napoleonic wars

The VOC was angry at Raffles for setting up a trade settlement occupying their territory, claiming that Singapore indirectly belongs to them

Governor-General of Penang was angry at his subordinate, Raffles, for starting an argument with the Dutch. They did not want to start a war in Southeast Asia

Directors in the EIC was angry at Raffles for creating tension with the Dutch. Britain needed Holland as a Buffer state.

What did the dutch and british sign? (what treaty, and what was it about)

Angelo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 (otherwise known as the Treaty of London) on 17 March 1824

The Netherlands allow the British to keep Singapore

Malacca will be ceded to the British in return for Bencoolen

Creation of'‘ spheres of influence, British will control the Malay Peninsular and the Dutch will control the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia today)

How was singapore colonised?

what was the name of this treaty?

The 1824 Treaty of friendship and alliance (a revised treaty of the singapore treaty of 1819)

The second resident of singapore was Dr John Crawfurd

Who did he sign the treaty with?

Crawfurd signed the treaty with Sultan Tengku and Temenggong Abdul Rahman

What did they get in return?

Sultan Tengku and Temenggong Abdul Rahman got a monthly salary of $1500 and $800 respectively

What problems did Farquhar come across?

He had no funding + no income tax, no communication with others

There were no farm or shops to help resupply ships with food

He needed to attract people to come to Singapore

Violence and disorder

Rats, centipede infestation and wild tigers

How did he tackle the first problem? (funding)

He legalised the sale of opium and arrak, and gambling too.

How did he tackle the second problem? (food)

There must be enough food to keep the settlers in Singapore, so he sent news to ask for help in Penang for food and supplies and traders to come to Singapore. (Traders from Penang were attracted to Singapore, as they were told they could sell supplies at high prices.)

How did he tackle the third problem? (attracting traders)

He needed to attract people to come to Singapore so he sent an officer to St. John’s Island to spread news of passing ships in the trading settlement in Singapore

How did he tackle the fourth problem? (violence and disorder)

Though it was never solved, they did try to fix this by

Forming a small police force in the 1820 (a police force of 12 policemen) though they all died at the end of the year 🥲

They were poorly trained

There was language barriers (57 different ones)

usually they were the first ones killed

How did he tackle the fifth problem? (Rats, centipede infestation and wild tigers)

Tigers were also a constant danger

So he encouraged locals to set up tiger traps and the formation of hunting groups to hunt them down

There was also a rat and centipede infestation

So, he started a campaign where for every rat/centipede killed, the exterminators would be rewarded with one shilling which is like $8 now

(to prevent a cholera outbreak)

Why did the British and Europeans want to colonise southeast asia?

To civilize and educate on-European countries, as they were meant to bring ‘light’ to dark places like asia and africa, giving them peace and security

What happened to lead the british into choosing singapore as a trading settlement?

The two European countries, EIC and VOC, had intensified their competition beyond Europe in pursuit of profit and dominance over key trade routes.

After the Napoleonic Wars, what did the dutch do?

The Dutch resumed heir position as the dominant European power in the Malay Archipelago, reclaiming control over key territories, including Java and Malacca

What were the disadvantages of Bencoolen and Malacca as a trading port?

They were poorly positioned in relation to the main trading hubs of the Malay Archipelago

In bencoolen, it was located on the western coast of Sumatra, facing the Indian Ocean instead of the strategically significant straits of malacca.

It was also built on a swampy, disease prone area and lacked access to fresh water

Penang was not strategically effective for controlling the straits or safeguarding British Ships navigating through them.

Penang lacked essential resources like timber and skilled craftsmen for ship repairs, so it limited its utility as a naval and trading hub.

Why was malacca so sought after for?

It occupied a more advantageous position within the straits (but it was under dutch control), as the straits of malacca connected vital trading routes connecting India and China via the Malay archipelago

What did raffles oppose?

The ceding control of lucrative China trade to the Dutch

What did the british need?

A country that can enhance their control over the straits of malacca but also safeguard shipping and trade along this critical maritime corridor.

Singapore had?

No Dutch presence on the island

Why was Raffles rejected at first?

Temenggong Abdul Rahman was not the sultan, and only the sultan could give them permission to start a trading settlement. But the sultan was under the control of the Dutch, and they would not allow the British to occupy Singapore.

Who became the sultan after sultan abdul rahman died?

Tengku Abdul Rahman

Where did Tengku Hussein go, and how did the british get the rights?

He was sent in exile to the Riau Islands

He was invited back to singapore secretly when Temenggong sent some of his men secretly to invite him

Tengku Hussein then gave them the rights to set up a trading settlement on the SOUTHERN part of singapore, as the british recognised him as the true sultan.

How was the dutch monopoly broken?

It removed the almost sole sovereignty over Southeast Asia

Why did the British need holland as a buffer state?

A strong adversary like France could use Holland as a base to launch military attacks on Britain.

Why was the governer of pahang angry at raffles?

The dutch’s naval power in southeast asia outmatched the british, and the tension raffles created risked escalating into a potential conflict.

How did Crawfurd contribute to the growth of Singapore?

The treaty signed on 2 August 1824 had granted the EIC and Britain full rights to singapore and the islands 10 miles of its shores. The chiefs were given land in Singapore and promised substantial monetary compensation if they chose to leave the island permanently. This effectively ended any native control over singapore. This allowed the british to firmly establish itself as the government of singapore, and solidify its control over singapore.