Hist flascards

3 steps of infering

Inference, evidence, explain (annotate to find clues and ask questions).

Controlling powers of southeast Asia in the past

Portugal, Netherlands, England.

Why was Singapore naturally suitable?

Natural sheltered harbour and accessible drinking water.

Structure of answers

Follow PEEL, break down answers with one point in one sentence, don't run on, evidence and examples must also be clear.

Thinking and answering about sources

Understand question, recall and search for more info, contextualisation, close reading.

For inference don't copy from source

Use text to make more specific conclusions.

Making comparison between sources

1. understand the question

2. understand criterion for comparison

3. make inferences from each source

4. match inferences using criterion of comparison

Why British wanted to break Dutch monopoly

To earn money as British ships had to pass through Dutch ports and had to pay there.

British POV for making port in SG

Unsuitability of existing ports, earn profits through breaking dutch monopoly and spice trade.

Singapore having free port status

Means no taxes, to attract traders to come to Singapore. It was good for traders but bad for EIC.

Why did British set up port in sg?

Because Penang was too far north of the straits and bencoolen was not in the main maritime route so they needed a naturally suitable and strategic port which was Singapore. they also wanted to break Dutch monopoly and break their control of southeast Asia.

Why was early Singapore successful?

Singapore had strategic location so it could earn a lot of money (a trading port city), 1300-1800s Singapore received both Monsoon winds all year round so there were sailships all year round so there was more trading so more money.

Why were the british interested in Southeast Asia?

1. Lucrative trade oppotunities, particularly China trade 2. EIC exported goods like cotton and opium from India to China, while importing tea, silk and porcelain back to Britain 3. Profits from selling opium to China significantly boosted British interest in region 4. British sought to access Straits produce, such as tin and gold. which was high in demand 5. establishing ports allowed British to trade efficiently and profitably without incurring high taxes and fees

Impact of dutch monopoly on British trade

1. VOC held monopoly over spice trade, controls key trade routes

2. restricted British traders to trade in Batavia and faced taxes and fees

3. British compelled to seek other port to have more involvement in Southeast Asia to not pay taxes

4. Motivated British to set ports to gain foothold in spice trade

5. spurred British expansion to secure direct access to resources

Why set port in SG?

1. Strategic location, crucial for China trade

2. convenient stopover for ships

3. allow spice trade

4. sheltered harbour and accessible drinking water

5. made SG vital link in British trading network

Spice trade

1. High valued because of medicinal and preservative food

2. creates profit

3. bypass Dutch control

4. increase competition with dutch

5. shape colonial ambition

Benefit of strategic location

1. essential stop

2. in main route of trading

3. stopover

4. collective centre for goods

Why need port?

1. trade with China

2. allow ships to resupply and rest

3. find location free from Dutch to make money

4. has access to local goods

5. economic interest and more influence in region

Importance of SG harbour

1. was deep and well shektered, safe anchorage

2. ensure safety of ships docked there while waiting for monsoon

3. protect ships from weather

4. strategic location

Monsoon winds

1. determine sail route

2. SW monsoon winds brought traders from indian ocean, NE monsoon brought them home

3. allows predictable trading schedule, more effieciency

4. made SG trading hub

Logical chain of effects for law and order

police force, chinese protectorate eg. → law and order → secure, safeguard peace → attract traders to come to trade → economic growth

Initiatives by British government (policies)

1. Free trade → economic growth

2. Police force → solve social ills like gambling, use of opium, secret societies etc.

How free port status contributed to growth as a major trading hub

1. allowed traders to operate without paying taxes on goods, attracting diverse range of traders

2. lead to increase of volume of traders

3. geographical location of Singapore facilitate transshipment

4. entrepot trade model allowed goods to be repackaged and exported to different regions

5. singapore’s trade tripled, establishing key port in British empire

impact of admin reforms

1. police force introduced for law and order for safer trade

2. stable admin allowed consistent trade practices

3. legislative council included non-official members wo represent traders for better social conditions and trading facilities

4. more peaceful environment so more economic growth

5. laid groundwork for Singapore’s future development

Challenges maintaining law and order

1. rapid population growth made challenge

2. influx of migrants increased crime rate

3. small police force was insufficient

4. Francis James Bernard was not good due to his other duties

5. lack of resources and manpower made it difficult for law and order

Thomas Dunman’s impact

1. appointed as deputy superintendent and became full-time commissioner

2. respected by european officials and chinese community

3. hands-on often works at night to directly address crime

4. improved police’s morale and working conditions and higher wages to attract recruit

5. led to reduction of crime rate and more effectiveness

Police training school

1. professionalised police force

2. ensure officers received training, improve skills and efficiency

3. detective force allowed specialised crime investigation

4. technology enhanced communication and efficiency

5. improve law enforcement capabilities

Entrepot trade increases SG economic growth

1. allowed SG to act as middle man as goods were reexported

2. attracted traders everywhere, increased volume of goods traded

3. geographical location of sg facilitated easy access for ships

4. economic benefits contributed to Sg’s economic growth

5. SG became one of most important port because of entrepot trade

impact of legislative council

1. made up of non-official members who represented local traders and interests

2. allowed laws directly affecting local population and improve social conditions

3. provided platform for local voices to be heard

4. more stable admin, crucial for trade

5. played significant role in shaping local governance and policies

Reasons SG seen as impregnable fortress and why it fell to Jap(British POV)

1. The Singapore Strategy

   -The British constructed a large, modern naval base at Sembawang, and would send a fleet of warships to be to the base

   -Military airfields were constructed at Tengah, Sembawang and Seletar and gun positions were set up to defend Singapore against attacks from the sea

2. Defense of Malaya

   -Naval base had to be defended until the ships arrived so had to defend Malaya

   -Initially thought that Japanese would not attack from the north, as such defended the south and eastern coasts of Singapore because thought that naval base and its defenses and natural protection of the Malayan jungles would deter them for long enough

   -after that British realised that with improved equipment, Jap troops cld land on Malaya despite wet and windy monsoon season and roads and railway resulted in no need to travel through jungle

   -so drew up plans to prevent enemy army from landing in north Malaya and built many airfields in Malaya, hoping to deter them

3. British Forces

   -British not enuf resources to carry out defense plans, because fighting wars everywhere(Europe, North Africa) and compared to these, east asia low priority

   Evi: Only sent two warships, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, which got sunk near when heading towards Kuantan, Malaysia

   -spared the worst for east asia(eg. Buffalo fighters nicknamed “Flying coffins“ due to low life expectancy of pilots), outnumbered by Jap

   -forces defending SG from diff parts of world(Britain, india, australia, malaysia, straits settlements and singapore)so diff for commanders to understand and work with each other, and some soldiers felt that it was not their duty to fight hard and sacrifice themselves in the defence of colonies, British also reluctant to call om locals to contribute to defense

   Evi: 19,000 British, 15,000 Australian, 37,000 Indian Army

Why did war break out in the asia pacific in 1941?

1. Rise of nazi germany

   -caused by defeat in ww1, eco. in ruins and great hardship and ppl wanting to be a great power again

   Evi: Great depression in 1930s and treaty of Versailles(limitations on army, seen as war guilt clause, placing responsibility on them)

2. Rise of Modern Japan

   -Japan realised that they had fallen far behind western countries and needed to change(develop tech→essential for security), but was mountainous and heavily forested so lacked resources

   Evi: in 1853, warships from US arrived, wanted them to open more ports and increase trade.

   -also wanted to become great power and build their own empire in Asia to obtain land and resources they needed

   Evi: needed oil to keep its industries going

   -believed in “Greater East Asia Co-pros sphere“, freed from white man superiority and form realm where all countries and ppl co-exist in co-pros under aegis of Japan, form eco. and military blocs.

   Evi: US and Britain limiting Japanese military through naval restrictions, enforcing open door foreign policy→keep free trade, no absolute control of country’s goods and resources

Why did SG fall to Jap?(Jap POV)

1. Jap plans and strats

   -Jap spies disguised as tourists and barbers to gather info for military, also set up a special research unit to look into techniques for jungle fighting and training of soldiers

   Evi: Pamphlet on useful tips was written for soldiers

   -Colonel Masanobu Tsuji also decided to attack from North after learning about SG’s defenses in the south

   -Jap forces were experienced, battle-hardened and well supported with equipment(eg. tanks), also brought light tanks and bicycles to move soldiers quickly, soldiers lightly equipped to move fast and catch enemy by surprise

   -Jap control of air and sea gave them advantage, cld support their troops on the ground and drop bombs on defending forces

   -Jap control of indo-china and south china sea also allowed them to launch more attacks and supply their troops w/o interfeerence from British

   -Jap forces were outnumbered so relied on speed and surprise, and took British’ resources because they keep retreating

How did Japanese establish control in SG?

1. Using force

   -Meting out harsh punishments

   eg. Kempeitai tortured civilians using corporal beating, water torture, electric torture, burning, dislocation of limbs, psychological torture and threatened their families to obtain confessions and they also arrested people with little to no evidence.

   exp: Using these harsh punishments, they created fear and severe warnings to the people about the potential consequences of going against the japanese. Over time, many people learnt to go about their business quietly and not appear disobedient in case they drew the unwanted attention of the Japanese authorities.

   -Imprisoning Allied soldiers

   eg. more than 130000 Allied soldiers were taken into POW camps, women and children were also imprisoned, they were forced to march out in public from Bukit Timah Road to Changi prison and barracks nearby

   exp: they were imprisoned for slave labour (eg. build Siam-Burma railway), forced to mine(eg. Miike mine at Omuta in Japan, largest POW camp)

   -Carrying out operation sook ching

   eg: Japanese said 6000 died while other estimates suggestes 25000-30000 people died

   exp: aimed at identify and eliminate anti-Japanese elements among local population. Targeted Chinese population because they were viewed as potential source of opposition and threat to their rule, because of long standing inter-country relations and sino-japanese war since 1937. How it was carried out: was unsystematic and disorganised, decisions were based on the whims of the persons doing the screening. Succeeded in instilling fear among chinese population.

   -Coercing the chinese business community

   eg. Overseas Chinese Association was formed, and Jap extorted 50 million from Chinese community in Malaya and SG as a gift to “atone for their anti-Jap activities”.

   exp: Jap targeted Chinese Businessmen in SG because of their generous cintributions to China relief fund, supporting their resistance against Jap during the war.

2. Winning loyalty

   -using propaganda

   eg: postcard shows a faceless Japanese soldier being revered as a guardian of Asian children. This image is part of the propaganda efforts to portray Imperial Japan as the agent for the establishment of "Asia for the Asiatics", portrayal of the relationship between the Japanese military and the Asians.

   exp: influence the minds of the people in SG and gain their loyalty, Jap portrayed themselves as liberators who had come to free asians from colonial rule, tried to convince the lovals to accept their vision of Greater East Asia Co-pros sphere, spreading messages through channels like posters and radio broadcasts.

   -providing benefits to locals

   eg: 1. school textbooks were provided free of charge to 20000 students in 1944 2. Malay nationalist organisation Kesatuan Melayu Muda responded positively to Japanese propaganda that promised better lives for malays under an asian power, and thus malays received rice, sugar, and salt to the less fortunate during Hari Raya Puasa by the Japanese, malays and indians also charged lower fess than chinese to cross the causway.

   exp: Jap provided certain benefits, such as schooling and accommodation at no cost, appealed to ethic groups by giving them favourable treatment, and were treated less harshly

   -imposing japanese culture

   a. Teaching Japanese language

   eg: To help students learn Japanese, Jap education authorities published a series of Nippon-go readers for beginners, the books were full of praise for the eauty and greatness of Japan. Language lessons also became regular feature in newspapers, competitions, awards, extra rations, salary increments and promotions were used to motivate people to learnt the Jap language.

   exp: To promote their culture, Jap taught the Japanese language(Nippon-go), students were taught to speak and write in Japanese in place of english, these lessons were conducted daily over the school’s broadcasting services, adults also had to learn nippon-go, like teachers were required to attend language classes several times a week. Japanese culturer was held up as a model for all to follow, Jap authorities hoped to imbue the Singapore population with the Jap spirit, to get SG people’s loyalty and respect and therefore obedience.

   b. Cultivating Japanese spirit

   eg: During morning assemblies in schools, students had to sing “kimigayo”, the Japanese national anthem, and bow before the picture of the Japanese Emperor befor ethe day began, also taught to sing Japanese folk songs. Additionally, daily mass exercises were introduced to locals, were broadcast with instructions and rhythmic music on public radio. The Jap emphasised physical education to instill discipline and promote fitness among the masses. Selected youths also received training in traditional Jap martial arts such as kendo and judo to propagate Jap spirit in schools.

   exp: Jap promoted Nippon seishin(Jap spirit) to foster a sense of loyalty and identity, to earn their obedience as well, also eliminating western influences, as part of Greater East Asia Co-pros sphere.

What was life like under Jap?

1. Survival

   a. Dealing with shortages

   eg: Egg price increased from $0.03 to $15, Fish price increased from $0.20 to $320, Sugar price increased from $0.04 to $60.

   exp: The war disrupted trade, which limited import of goods into SG from overseas. Additionally, most of avail resources were channelled to Japan’s war efforts rather than to the people so there was shortage of food and essential items. Shortage of items drove prices up as shops did not have enough goods to meet the needs of the ppl, thus prices of essential goods increased over time, causing inflation. As a result, black market flourished, ppl had to pay high prices for basic necessities, Jap gov then printed more money, dropping value of money massively, until money become worthless. This made surviving day to day life very hard for people, some couldn’t even obtain basic necessities, with the addition of living under fear of Jap.

   b. Disease and death

   eg: 1. 130000 ppl died between 1942 and 1945 2. Changi Prison designed for 600 prisoners but it held up to 5000

   exp: healthcare and sanitation which had hardly been a priority of the colonial authorities before the outbreak of war, worsened during the Jap occupation. Furthermore, the local population was weakened by food shortages. Death rate climbed as a result, primarily caused by beriberi, pneumonia and dysentery. Esp POWs and civilian prisoners, faced continual shortages of food and medicine and acute overcrowding. Such living conditions led to poor hygiene and the spread of diseases, making survival even harder.

   c. Relocations

   eg: The chinese were encouraged to move to Endau in Johor, the soil there was rich and enuf water supply, therefore suitable for agriculture, settlement was successful, had many facilities, but geurrilas and bandits attacked, disrupting peace. Jap created Bahau settlement for Eurasians and Chinese Roman Catholics, but land too hilly and soil too poor to support agriculture, some ppl resorted to eating rats and maggots, many of them perished.

   exp: During Jap Occupation, ppl encouraged to strive for self-sufficiency by growing their own food, including tapioca, sweet potato, but this failed to ease food shortages, Jap resorted to relocating people from SG to increase agricultural output. Jap gov official, Mamoru Shinozaki was tasked to oversee resettlement projects, to try to improve survivability of people.

2. Leisure and entertainment

   eg: 1. Jap introduced radio programmes consisting of Jap songs, malay music, and news in hokkien and cantonese, Jap movies and documentaries at cinemas, free open-air screenings of propaganda shows. 2. Notices of football, baseball, tennis and badminton matches appeared almost everyday in the media, boxing matches took place at Kim Seng Road, and police band even performed at Botanic Gardens 3. POWs published newspaper, organising theatrical performances and church services, and painting murals at Changi Chapel.

   exp: To maintain the appearance of a harmonious and happy society, the Jap authorities allowed some leisure activities and entertainment to continue. Jap officials encouraged sports and cultural activities to reduce stress of wartime conditions on local population. POWs also tried to keep their spirits up by organising and participating in social, religious and sporting activities, making lives more positive and happy.

How did locals respond to Jap rule?

1. Collaboration

   eg: 1. duties were given to malays including policing and being part of neighbourhood associations that would report on suspected hostile activity against the regime. Also enlisted Chinese who became informants for the Kempaitai during Sook Ching, rooting out those seen to be anti-Jap.

   exp: Some collaborated with Jap willingly while others were threatened or forced by circumstances to. Jap actively sought the support of the malays in administering Jap rule, also enlisted other groups to assist the Jap in establishing their authority. This earned them benefits such as being treated less harshly, or getting more necessities like food.

2. Resistance

   eg: 1. Seven senior officers of the Malay regiment refused to pledge loyalty to and fight for Japan, subsequently executed. 2. Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army(MPAJA) and Force 136, which was a secret organisation set up by British. MPAJA carrying sabotage attacks on jap officers and their men whenever they had the chance, also aroused anti-Jap sentiments among the people by distributing anti-Jap newspapers and posters, Force 136 would gather information about the Ja and also organise sabotage activities.

   exp: Not everyone was willing to cooperate or accept Jap rule, some responded tp the ill-treatment of the locals by taking up arms and joining resistance forces, working with the British to drive the Jap out of SG. This resistance was a result of dissatisfaction with Jap rule, since many of them were being ill-treated and did not receive any benefit from Jap rule, did not want to collaborate with them and support their war efforts.

3. Key individuals

   a. Lim Bo Seng

   When war broke out in the 1930s between Japan and China, he organised anti-Japanese activities such as a boycott of Jap goods. After fall of SG, he was recruited as an agent of force 136 and also linked up with local resistance organisations such as the Malayn Communist Party to fight against the Jap through guerrilla tactics. Unfortunately, in March 1944, he was captured and tortured for information by the Jap. Despite this, he did not reveal any information to his captors, and he eventually died in prison on 29 June 1944.

   b. Elizabeth Choy

   During jap occupation, Choy worked as a canteen operator with her husband at the Mental Hospital. They secretly delivered food, money, medicine and messages to British POWs. As a result, she was imprisoned and tortured at the Kempaitai headquarters on Stamford Road for close to 200 days. After the war, she did not name her tortures, saying that they had acted that way because of war circumstances. In recognition of her courage, Choy was awarded to Order of the British Empire and the Order of the Star of Sarawak.

What problems did the people face immediately after the Jap surrender?

1. Food shortages

   eg: 1. Rice-producing countries such as Thailand were unable to produce enough rice to sell overseas. 2. BMA cleared the harbour so that ships could enter the port, controlled the prices of essential supplies such as sugar, salt, fresh fish and vegetables, and provided free meals for children under six years old.

   exp: This was the most urgent issue, due to wartime and post-war disruptions of production and shipping. Furthermore, it was difficult for rice that was produced to even reach and be distributed in SG, as the war had destryoed a large number of merchant ships. Additionally, sunken ships blocked the harbour and a few warehouses for storage. The British Military Administration(BMA) deat with the problem gradually.

2. Economic difficulties

   eg: BMA tried to ease the situation by issuing special grants to the locals, but these grants were often not sufficient for large families to make ends meet.

   exp: On 7 September 1945, BMA declared that banana notes were no longer the official currency of SG. This meant that those who had not kept the Straits dollar had to borrow from others to survive. BMA tried to ease the situation but not sufficient.

3. Schooling disruptions

   eg: 1. Schools were destroyed or seized for military use during the Japanese Occupation. 2. BMA reopened schools quickly in October 1945 for children of schooling age as well as overaged children who had received little education during the Jap Occupation. They also provided grants and waived school fees for children from needy families. By March 1946, 62000 students were enrolled in schools.

   exp: Despite Jap promises of greater educational opportunities, the war had disrupted the schooling of many people in SG. BMA tried to ensure the continuation of education.

Why did migrants come to SG after 1819?

1. Push factors

   eg: In China, during the late 19th and 20th century, the two Sino-Japanese wars and chinese civil war occured, and the people worried about their families’ and their own safety due to conflict, brutality and displacement, also became difficult for them to earn a livelihood, therefore left to seek more peacful and prosperous lives in SG.

   exp: Unfavourable circumstances in their homeleand that motivate people to settle elsewhere, like poor living conditions, hunger, poverty, fear for their lives. These problems were often brought about by overpopulation, natural disasters or conflict.

2. Pull factors

   eg: SG’s free port status meant that traders did not have to pay taxes on trade, enabling them to make larger profits in SG than in other ports in the region, SG’s free immigration policy also allowed migrants to come and go as they pleased, as they were not required to pay for immigration passes and papers or apply for permission to enter and leave SG. This made it easier for ppl to come to SG, also meant that traders could come as often as they liked for trade and business. As for better job prospects, different types were available because British needed to build infrastructure to support increase in growing population since SG’s founding. SG also attractive option for the poorer migrants because they could receive higher wages than what they received back home.

   exp: Favourable conditions that attract ppl to move to SG, like trade, business and better job prospects. This was due to SG’s strategic location, serving as a convenient meeting point for traders from many parts of the world to stop and replenish their fuel and food supplies. Taking advantage of its good location and trading networks, many traders came to Sg for the many diverse goods that could be found and traded, and better job opportunities.

What are the educational opportunities provided by migrants?

Evi: Maria Dyer, an English missionary started Chinese Girls’ School, later called Church of England Zenana Missionary school(present-day St Margaret’s school, began as a home for young chinese girls rescued by the police before they could be sold off. The first Chinese secondary school for boys-the Chinese High School(present-day Hwa Chong Institution) was started by a group of rich businessmen led by Tan Kah Kee in 1819. Alsagoff Arab School was founded in 1912 with the help of Syed Mohamed bin Ahmed Alsagoff, a wealthy individual, students were taught Arabic language and Islamic knowledge as well as reading and writing in English and Malay. Schools were alsp set up by organisations such as Ramakrishna Mission in early 20th century, teaching students both English and Tamil.

Exp: British only ran schools that supported their economic interests and to fill certain government positions, and provided few other educational opportunities even till the early part of the 20th century. Prior to 1900, schools were largely intended for boys, very few schools for girls, except those run by Christian missions that took orphaned and homeless girls. Various ppl and organisations thus stepped in to fill the gap, establishing schools that benefitted their communities. Creates a sense of belonging to community, letting citizens feel supported.

What are the healthcare services provided by migrants?

Eg: Gan Eng Seng led the establishment of Thong Chai Medical Institution in the latter part of 19th century, which ran a clinic to give free treatment and free medicine to poor people of all races. Tan Tock Seng constructed a hospital for the poor using land donated by Syed Omar bin Ali Aljunied, the Chinese Pauper Hospital.

Exp: Lack of nutrition, poor sanitation and overcrowding meant that diseases such as malaria, cholera, typhoid, smallpox and tuberculosis were common among migrants. Many of the sick lay on the road with sores on their bodies, too weak to move, when they died their bodies were left on the road. The gov did little to provide healtcare and related social services for the public, citizens also could not afford healthcare services as they were poor. They also didn’t fully trust western medicine, and were more familiar with their traditional medicine. The various local groups took it upon themselves to develop self-help organisations instead of relying on te government to address the issue. Other successful businessmen motivated by the desire to help the less fortunate, donated large sums of money to provide medical services and amenities, this included building water wells for the community and ensuring that the poor had proper burials after they passed away.

How did migrants participate in making laws for SG?

Eg: In 1927, Eunos Abdullah asked the government to set aside a very large piece of land for a Malay settlement called Kampong Melayu, the settlement subsequently provided low-cost housing for the Malays and allowed them to earn a living by growing fruits and vegetables as well as rearing poultry.

Exp: For many years, the non-official members of the Legislative Council who could speak and vote as they pleased, unlike official members of legislative council who had to support the Governor, consisted of only a few European and Asian members. As they were outnumbered by official members consisting of only europeans, and so could be outvoted, it was very difficult for them to persuade the government to act on their suggestions, making non-official members unhappy. Over the years, there was pressure for Gov to increase their numbers, by 1924, non-official members increased, with an equal no. of official and non-official, also was a step towards getting more local ppl involved in the affairs of the colony.

How did British rule SG as a port city?

1. Free port status

   eg: Much of SG’s trade in19th century involved transshipment(transfer of goods from one trading ship to another while in transit at the port) and entrepot trade(repackaging and redistribution of imported manufactured goods and regional produce). Profits were made by processing and packaging goods before they were re-exported elsewhere.

   exp: placed in 1819, traders came in ships from diff places and cld trade freely with one another in SG, not required to pay taxes on the goods they carried. This paved way for the increase of transshipment and entrepot trade, also because SG provided easily accessible, tax-free and centrally located place for both Western and Asian goods to be collected and exchanged. This led to SG flourishing as a port city, with trade almost tripling between 1830 and 1867, increasing profits, making it one of the most important and prosperous ports in the British Empire.

2. Administrative changes

   1. East India Company and British India Gov(1819-1867)

      eg: Traders protested against taxation on SG’s trade as it would affect SG’s free-port status, affecting their business. Gov had to turn to taxing gambling, opium and liquor. However, when gambling was banned in 1829, the tax on gambling houses could no longer be collected, reducing Gov’s revenue.

      exp: During this time, Gov in SG had difficulty managing the needs of expanding population and increasing size of trade, also had trouble raising money to pay for better facilities, security and social services, therefore could not improve conditions in SG and for providing social services, so EIC had to supply the bare minimum amount of money to SG’s gov to maintain it as they were money oriented. But in 1830s, EIC lost its dominant control of trade with China as British Gov opened it up to other British traders, so EIC lost interest in Straits Settlements as only developed settlements in Penang and SG to protect and promote China trade, and they prioritised maximising profits, so EIC began cutting costs, refusing to spend more money to improve Straits Settlements. Overall quality of life in SG did not improve during this time period.

   2. Crown colony(1867-1942)

      a. Law and Order

      eg: 1. SG’s population increased from barely 150 to 6000 from 1819 to 1821 2. Police force only consisted of the chief police officer, one writer, one jailor in charge of prison, one european sergeant and eight asian policemen. 3. European and Asian traders called a public meeting to talk about inability of small po,ice force to maintain law and order. Traders then wrote to Governor to ask for a stronger police force. They pointed out that the many crimes on the island made their lies and property unsafe. 4.Thomas Dunman persisted in making police force more appealing to potential recruits by fighting for better working conditions and higher wages. 5. Exp of tech: telephones, motor cars and radio communications

      exp: With SG’s rapidly growing population and growth of trade, crime also increased, making maintaining law and order a challenge. Police force: Francis James Bernard was appointed chief police officer by William Faquhar in 1820. However, he had other duties so could not spend all time and effort to his police work, police force was also very small, not enough to keep the peace in a population of a few thousand settlers. In 1843, european and asian traders wanted better policing to ensure safeguard and peaceful lives. Thomas Dunman was appointed as Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Superintendent of Police in 1843, and SG’s first full-time commissioner of Police in 1857. He enlarged police force by taking more men, especially those of good character and by the time he retired in 1871, he had achieved much by reducing gang robberies and improving quality and and morale of police. After Dunman retired, reforms to police force continued, a police training school was started in 1881, improving quality of policing and providing relevant skills needed, detective force established in 1883. By 1930s, with use of tech, police work became more efficient. Officers who had gone through professional training under police cadet system filled senior posts in police force, police force was abt 2000 strong, unlike small team it started with. All these improvements made SG a safer and more peaceful place, improving quality of lives of ppl living in it.

      b. Labour abuses

      eg: 1. Chinese community comprised 58 per cent of SG’s population, numbering about 55000 in total. 2. The coolie sips were often described as “floating hells”, it was common for hundreds of men to be crammed aboard a junk meant for a fraction of the number.

      exp: As SG grew as commerical centre, it attracted more and more chinese migrants, who were drawn by the prospect of work as well as opportunity to flee from wars, poverty and famine in China. By 1871, Chinese community grew in size. However, SG’s rapid development and prosperity had another dark side: labour abuses, secret society problems and prostitution. Labour abuse of coolies: 1. Coolie-agents were responsible for finding coolies to meet the demand in diff parts of the world, often tempted by huge profits and thus tried to obtain coolies by any means poss. While thousands of poor Chinese were willing to seek their fortunes abroad, many others were tricked or kidnapped by coolie-agents in China. 2. Conditions during the voyage from China were very poor, as a result of overcrowding as well as lack of food and water, many coolies died during the long voyage. 3. When coolies reach SG, to prevent them from escaping, many of them were locked up in ouses that were cramped and unhygienic, closely guarded by gangsters hired by the coolie-agents until employers were found.

      c. Secret society problems

      eg: 1. When members of secret society fell sick, the secret society wld take care of them, when poor members died without anyone to bury them, the secret society would arrange for a proper burial. 2. Gangs of up to 200 secret society members wld carry out armed robberies, usually at night but sometimes in broad light, on the homes of the rich. These secret societies were also responsible for many of the riots that occured in the 1840s and 1850s like 1854 Hokkien-Teochew riots as they fought for the control of territory and illegal vice such gambling and prostitution. 2. Until 1870s, there was no British officials who understood the various Chinese dialects, the european officers in the police force and all the policemen who were Indians and Malays, did not speak the language either, and could not find out anything about the secret societies and their activities.

      exp: Many of those who arrived from China found it useful to join secret society as they were poor and uneducated people who had never been outside of their hometown. In SG, they felt lonely and helpless, thus when they were befriended by members of secret society who helped them to find work or lodgings, they wld end up joining secret society. These secret societies provided support to these migrants, enjoy protection of the society, numbers increased with the rapid growth of the Chinese population. They were also source of problems, members of secret societies often took part often took part in gang robberies, gang fights and other lawlessness. For a long time, Gov took no steps to tackle the problem, because British officials had few dealings with most of the chinese living in SG and knew very little about how these secret societies operated.

   3. Prostitution

      eg: 1. In 1860, male to female chinese was 14:1, in 188 was 1:5, in 1901 was 1:4 2. In the latter part of 19th century, many young, female migrants from China were tricked into prostitution trade in SG. They were promised well-paid jobs, but when they arrived in SG, they were sold to keepers of brothels and forced to earn money for them. 3. Pipa tsai played the pipa or chinese lute. These girls were trained to play the instrument and sing to entertain men in clubs and brothels in SG. In some cases, the pipa tsai were forced into postitution.

      exp: Majority of migrants who came to SG for work were Chinese males, most of these migrants were unmarried or had left their wives in their homelands and few Chinese migrants women came to SG as it was seen as a man’s responsibility to earn a living elsewhere. This resulted in a very unbalanced ratio of men to women in SG. As working conditions were hard for the male migrants, many turned to opium smoking, drinking, gambling and visiting brothel. This created great demand for prostitutes, which meant that brothel owners and traffickers could make large profits which caused them to traffic or trick many women from China into prostitution trade in SG.

      British response: Chinese protectorate and the dangerous societies ordinance

      eg: All chinese societies had to register with the Chinese Protectorate, Pickering persuaded the Chinese community to settle their quarrels at the Chinese Protectorate instead of going to the secret societies, Chinese protectorate controlled coolie trade by registering the coolie-agents and lodging houses, pickering’s officers visited every coolie ship that arrived from China and inspected the coolie houses to ensure that the coolies were treated fairly, also worked with the leaders to build trust between British and the community, also set up department called Po Leung Kuk, which rescued many young girls from being sold to brothels, also provided shelter for those who were treated as servants.

      exp: Only after transfer to colonial gov, that the gov made a greater effort to control Chinese population. In May 1877, a government department called the chinese Protectorate was set up to tackle the problems of secret societies, coolie abuses, poverty and prostitution among the chinese community. Head of department was Willian Pickering-the first protector of the chinese, who was fluent in several Chinese dialects and his personality helped him gain the trust of the Chinese, thus able to develop a conprehensive understanding of the complicated operations of secret societies. Along with improvements in policing, Pickering was able to bring some sense of order to SG society. Government also pushed through a law to suppress dangerous societies and make them automatically unlawful. 1890 Dangerous Societies Ordinance gave the Governor the power to banish Chinese migrants and abolish any society deemed too dangerous. The threat of banishment was particularly effective as the Qing goverment often arrrested and executed such individuals once they returned to China, ppl also didn’t want to lose their work. Days of large-scale secret society fights that paralysed SG were over.

   4. Piracy

      eg:

      exp: Piracy posed a great danger to the lives, property and trade of trading community. Trading ships plying the Straits of Melaka were often attacked by pirates, their cargoes taken, and travellers killed or sold as slaves. The situation became so bad the pirates could be seen attacking ships just outside SG’s harbour, cuasing many traders to stay away, making SG’s trade suffer greatly and the traders lost huge sums of money. Traders repeatedly asked the gov in Straits Settlements to take strong action against piracy, but they lacked legal means to punish pirates and had to send them to india for trial, only after many appeals did gov in india send gunboats to patrol the waters. While the 3 gunboats destroyed many pirate ships and hideouts, they were only a temporary solution, as a permanent naval force was needed, something EIC couldn’t afford, so unable to curb piracy effectively.