SEM 2 HISTORY BEFORE WAR 11, WHAT AFFECTED SINGAPORE (external events)

What is the external events that affected Singapore before world war 2?

Industrial revolution and Suez Canal

great depression

World War 1

What is the industrial revolution?

It happened between 1750 and 1830

A widespread replacement of manual labour with machinery (driven by steam power)

Started with Great Britain

Consequences of industrial revolution

• Increased production led to a need for new markets

• Workers began to work in factories instead of working at home. This resulted in LAWS TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE FACTORIES AND TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE WORKERS.

• Towns developed as people migrated from the countryside to work in factories. As a result, LAWS ON CLEANING UP THE TOWNS AND BUILDING OF BETTER HOUSES WERE PASSED

• Europeans began to look to Asia for raw materials and markets for their goods

• Led to creation of new modes of transport

Effects of industrialisation in Singapore

Increase in trade

Improvement in communications

Elaborate increase in trade

More ships visited Singapore which led to more trade

Singapore was an important port as it collected goods from the east and distributed it to the west.,

Elaborate improvements in communication

Letters & documents could be delivered faster

Singapore was then brought closer into contact with Britain and the rest of the world

When was the canal opened and who opened it?

in 1869, the Suez Canal was opened by Ferdinand de Lesseps

Why was the Suez Canal even opened?

To shorten the sea route around Africa by digging a long canal to link the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

The opening of the Suez Canal (benefits)

Improvements in communication

• Mails reach here faster

By the 1860s, Steamships carryings mails from countries such as Britain had cut from 120 days to 50 days. (the timing it took to reach Singapore)

(in europe)

Goods were distributed faster and cheaper with the opening of the canal

How did the opening of the Suez canal benefit Singapore?

SUEZ

S- More ships arrived in Singapore → New Harbour built

U - More ships used less time to come to Singapore

E -shipping Expenses reduced

Z - trade Zoomed

(explain the S in SUEZ)

S - improvements in port facilities

The old harbour became overcrowded, and hence a New Harbour was built

The old harbour was also too shallow and small to accommodate steamships, and had a shortage of modern port facilities to cope with the increasing trade activities, as well as insufficient space along the riverbank for storing goods or coal, or to build dry docks for ship-repair

It was then renamed Keppel Harbour

(explain the U in SUEZ)

U - Less time needed to travel to Singapore

• By the 1860s, Steamships carryings mails to Singapore from countries such as Britain had cut from 120 days to 50 days.

• Did not need to sail around the southern tip of Africa (ships from Europe) as the Suez Canal served as a shortcut for travelling from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

(explain the E in SUEZ)

E - Cost of Shipping reduced

• Shipping costs (e.g. coal and salaries) were lowered due to savings in distance and time.

Explain the z in SUEZ

Z — great increase in trade

• More Europeans came to the East to obtain beach iron, mill scale, steel skull and granulated pig iron.

• Singapore, with its port often visited by other Asian countries, naturally saw an increase in the number of steamships

• Traders recognised that Singapore attracted traders from all over the world, making the island an emporium of goods from both the east and west, as well as a hub for Southeast Asian goods.

• 1880s - Singapore became the Port of Call for ports East (Asia) and West (Europe) of the globe.

Summary of the industrial revolution and Suez canal:

A great increase in port facilities

Improvements in communication

Improvements in trade

World War 1 is also known as?

The Great War “The War to end all Wars”

Where and why did World War I occur?

Mainly fought in Europe

Nations were jealous and suspicious and feared each other- joined hands as allies - resulting in two groups, the Axis and Allies

War broke up when the Archduke of Austria-Hungary was murdered

Why did it break out when he was murdered?

When a group of people from Serbia killed the Archduke of Austria-Hungary, Austria blamed the Serbian government for the murder. Germany and Austria-Hungary then declared war on Serbia, and Russia supported Serbia etc etc

(basically, many countries joined in to take sides, making it evolve into a war fought between the Central Powers and the Allies)

What were the Allied Powers? (41 countries)

Russian Empire

France

British Empire

United States

Central Powers/Axis. What were they?

Austria-Hungary

German Empire

Ottoman Empire

Italy (switched sides later)

Bulgaria

How was Singapore affected when World War I broke out?

Rush for food

Trade affected

Indian Mutiny (in singapore)

Rush for food. Why?

Rumours of a war led to a frantic rush to buy food as they feared food supplies would run out, leading to an artificial increase in the price of goods.

(Even though there were adequate food supplies)

The government ensured enough food, controlled imports and exports, and even imported more rice from Siam and Indo-China to assure the locals. (This helped prevent a food shortage.)

When the situation was calm, the prices of goods lowered.

Trade affected. Why?

For a time, the presence of a German warship - SMS EMDEN - endangered shipping around the area temporarily, attacking British trading ships in the Indian Ocean.

For example, it captured 23 ships and even launched surprise attacks on Penang and Madras, while reducing British shipping by 60%.

Although it never really attacked the ships in Singapore’s harbour, it posed a threat until the Australian warship, the Sydney, destroyed it on 9 November 1914

Indian Mutiny in Singapore. Why?

The sepoy regiment was to be sent to Hong Kong by the British; however, rumours spread by the German POWs told them that the regiment was to be deployed to Europe instead, to fight Turkey. This angered many Muslim sepoys in the regiment as they regarded the Sultan of Turkey as their religious leader and therefore did not want to fight against their fellow muslims. Hence, on the eve of their departure, they mutinied

What did the Indian Mutiny cause?

Sepoy regiment took over Alexandra Barracks and freed German POWs.

They organised themselves in smaller groups and killed Europeans on sight

Though this was put down in 10 days by the local British forces, aided by the French, Russian and Japanese navies. But this mutiny created anxiety and fear in the local population; the people did NOT support the mutiny. The

In summary, world war I

Threat of war affecting Singapore’s trade (Emden)

Attack on the Europeans by the Sepoy (Sepoy Mutiny)

Rush for food (Control on imports and exports)

What happened during the great depression

Great decrease in business activities, with many people losing their jobs.

Where did the great depression occur?

In USA

The Wall Street crash of 1929 started on October 24 (“Black Thursday”) and continued until October 29 (“Black Tuesday”), when share prices on the New York Stock Exchange collapsed.

Explain the start of the great depression

In the Early 1920s, companies in the United States were making huge profits, and the prices of their shares rose. Thus, many people bought shares as a way to make quick money. In fact, many people even borrowed heavily from banks to buy shares (and banks themselves invested in many of these shares)

On 24 October 1929, share prices decreased rapidly. This led to the collapse of the New York Stock Exchange located on Wall Street. Those who borrowed money to buy shares had to sell their belongings to pay the banks what they owed. Many tried to withdraw their savings, but some banks did not have the money to pay them back and hence were forced to close down (go bankrupt)

As a result, many lost their life savings, and millions of Americans lost their jobs, businesses failed, and financial institutions collapsed

Effects of the great depression in British Colonial Singapore

1. Trade and Business

2. Unemployment and Hardship

1. Trade and Business (explain)

• America and Europe were the biggest buyers of Singapore’s exports - tin and rubber

• Countries hit by the Great Depression included most of Europe and America

• So they cut down on buying these products, and Singapore saw a downturn in business, jobs, and many became bankrupt

• Prices of tin and rubber fell tremendously when the American and European demand for them decreased.

• Singapore’s trade with the West then declined in the 1930s, from 659.3 million dollars in 1925 to 282.9 million dollars in 1935.

• Therefore, business companies in Singapore had less trade and profit than before, causing a retrenchment in the number of workers.

• Rows of shops were left empty as nobody wanted to rent them. Many lost their wealth and became bankrupt.

2. Unemployment and Hardship (explain)

Difficulty in finding employment as hundreds applied for a job vacancy,

The government sector had to retrench and cut the salaries of those who remained

Many of the unemployed had to depend on their friends or relatives. Many immigrants had to return to their homelands when their friends and relatives could no longer support them.

1/3 of the population was unemployed in 1931

How did the Government respond to the great depression in British Colonial Singapore?

Immigration was restricted

Arrangements were made for unemployed Chinese and Indians (especially the unskilled) to go back to their homeland

But there was a relaxation of women/children immigration from China and India

Imposing of maximum fines

Elaborate on restriction of immigration

In 1928, a law was passed to restrict and reduce the number of immigrants entering Singapore. (Immigration Restriction Ordinance in 1928, then the Aliens Ordinance in 1933)

Why did they send back the unemployed?

To reduce competition for jobs and basic necessities like food

Why did the government impose maximum fines?

Imposed maximum fine on people who broke the laws in Singapore to increase revenue so they can sustain the jobs of government workers.

So, why do we restrict and relax the immigration into Singapore?

Reduce the possibility of the unemployed resorting to crime

Women/Children joining husbands stabilised the family.

In summary, the great depression

Business and Trade decreased

Unemployment and hardship

arrangements for the unemployed to be Sent back to their homelands

Trimmed (restricted) the number of immigrants allowed into Singapore

BUST