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

give background info on ww1 and great depression

World War I was a war that started in Europe that would eventually spread to the rest of the world in 1914.

Great Depression started in America with the Wall Street crash of October 1929 of which it would cause millions of people to suffer due to many companies and even banks being forced to close down.

Great depression start and end date

started: Wall street crash

October 24 1929, Black Thursday, → October 29 1929, Black Tuesday

Background info on Suez Canal and Industrial revolution

The Suez Canal was planned and opened by Ferdinand de Lesseps 1869, to act as a shortcut between the east and the west as it linked the mediterranean sea to the red sea, shortening the sea route along Africa.

The industrial revolution started in 1750 and ended in 1830, starting with Great Britain who began to replace manual labour with machinery driven by steam power.

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

(coaling station)

(explain the S in SUEZ)

 The Old Harbour off the mouth of the Singapore River (Boat Quay) could no longer hold the capacity of ships coming into Singapore. It was too shallow and small to accommodate steamships. It was also short of modern port facilities to cope with the increasing trade activities, as well as insufficient space along the riverbank for storing goods and coal, or to build dry docks for ship-repair.

In 1886, the New Harbour, renamed Keppel Harbour in 1900, was built in the strait between the southern coast of Singapore and two smaller islands (Pulau Brani and Pulau Blakang Mati). The new location had deep waters, where ships could sail right up to the shore without scraping the bottom of the sea. It was also sheltered from strong winds and big waves by the two smaller islands.

Modern port facilities such as wharves, docks and storehouses were built. Modern port facilities such as forklifts, cranes and tractors were also used for loading and unloading of goods. 

Explain the z in SUEZ

Z — great increase in trade

• With the invention of steamships, more Europeans could now sail to the East to obtain raw materials such as tin, and find markets to sell their goods

• Since less time is needed to sail from the East to the West and vice-versa, shipping expenses were greatly reduced, enticing more to trade beyond Europe and Singapore aswell, where it was recognised as a collection center for southeast Asian products (and an emporium of goods from both the East and the West)

• This meant more ships visited Singapore and led to the growth in trade. With the increased volume of ships passing through the Straits of Melaka, Singapore became the main port-of-call along the route.

Improvements in Communication

Letters and documents could be delivered to Singapore faster with the invention of steamships and the opening of the Suez Canal.

In the 1880s, steamships from Europe carrying letters and documents took 70 days less to reach Singapore.

As a result, Singapore came closer into contact with Britain and the rest of the world.

Summary of the industrial revolution and Suez canal:

A great increase in port facilities

Improvements in communication

Improvements in trade

How was Singapore affected when World War I broke out?

Rush for food

Trade affected

Indian Mutiny (in singapore)

Rush for food. Why?

• Although the war was fought far from the shores of Singapore, there was a frantic rush to buy food when news of the war in Europe broke out. Prices for basic necessities were artificially inflated. This was due to fear that food supplies would run out, which fortunately did not happen. Even traders from neighboring islands stocked their shops with food which they brought from Singapore. As prices soared, people became worried. The Government ensured the people that there would be enough food controlled imports and exports (like rice and sugar). To assure the local population, the government imported more rice from Siam and Indo-

  China.

Trade affected. Why?

• Trade and shipping was threatened temporarily because of the arrival of the German warship, SMS Emden in September, 1914.

• Its presence endangered trade between Singapore and Europe, because the Emden attacked British trading ships in the Indian Ocean. For example, it captured 23 ships and even launched a surprise attack on Penang (Battle of Penang on 28 October 1914)

• Emden was destroyed by The Sydney, an Australian warship on 9 Nov 1914 removing this temporary danger. Hence, it threatened Singapore’s trade even did not attack ships in Singapore’s harbour as many was discouraged to visit Singapore and hence leading to a fall in profit

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.

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)

Effects of the great depression in British Colonial Singapore

1. Trade and Business

2. Unemployment and Hardship

1. Trade and Business (explain)

Singapore was dependent on trade with other countries, especially on the trade in tin and rubber. When these countries were hit by the great depression, they cut down in buying these products. As a result, Singapore’s trade with the West declined in the 1930s, as seen from the plunge in trade 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. This led to the retrenchment of a number of workers.

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

One example of how Colonial Government in Singapore coped was to impose the maximum fines on people who flouted the laws in Singapore. This was so that the revenue earned could sustain the jobs of government workers.

2. Unemployment and Hardship (explain)

There was widespread retrenchment everywhere in Singapore and in many cases, reduction in salaries. This led to many of them relying on their friends and family for funds to buy basic necessities for survival.
1931: 1/3 of population unemployed.

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

Quotas were imposed on Chinese immigrants, and these were reduced in 1931 and further in 1932. The effect was dramatic. Chinese immigrants dropped from 242,000 in 1930 to less than 28,000 in 1933, and the fall was most obvious among adult males.

Arrangements were made for unemployed Chinese and Indians (especially the unskilled) to go back to their homeland, in order to reduce the competition for jobs and basic necessities such as food. 
But there was a relaxation of women/children immigration from China and India.

Reduce the possibility of the unemployed resorting to crime  Women/children joining their husbands stabilized the family

Why did they send back the unemployed?

To reduce competition for jobs and basic necessities like food

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