Comprehensive Question Bank: Indonesian National History

Educational Institutions and Assessment Context

The Assessment for the Even Semester (PAS Genap) for the academic year $2025/2026$ is conducted for Grade XI AKL/BDP students. This study guide is based on the question bank compiled by Indra Fadlianto at SMK YASPIKA Karimun. The materials cover the revolutionary period of Indonesia, the transition from the Republic of Indonesia Serikat (RIS) to the Unitary State (NKRI), the eras of Liberal Democracy, Guided Democracy, and the New Order, extending into the Reform era under the leadership of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Jokowi-JK administration.

Early Independence Conflicts and the Struggle for Sovereignty

In the aftermath of the $17 \text{ August } 1945$ proclamation, Indonesia faced significant military challenges from Allied forces and the returning Dutch administration. In Surabaya, the spirit of resistance was epitomized by Bung Tomo, who delivered a famous radio broadcast on $9 \text{ November } 1945$, stating, "It is better for us to be destroyed than not to be free. Our motto remains: freedom or death!" The primary trigger for the massive Allied attack on Surabaya in November $1945$ was the death of the British commander, Brigadier General A.W.S. Mallaby.

In West Java, the "Bumi Hangus" (scorched earth) operation was conducted in Bandung. The primary goal of this strategy was to prevent the city from becoming a military base or headquarters for Allied forces. The chronology of the Bandung Lautan Api incident involved the British issuing an ultimatum to surrender seized Japanese weapons on $12 \text{ October } 1945$, followed by attacks on Allied headquarters at Hotel Savoy Homann and Hotel Preanger by the TKR (Tentara Keamanan Rakyat). This culminated in the evacuation of citizens and the burning of the city by TRI and local militias.

In Bali, the resistance was marked by the Battle of Margarana, led by I Gusti Ngurah Rai. This conflict is famously known as a "Puputan," which refers to a fight to the death where fighters refuse to surrender to the enemy, prioritizing honor over life.

Diplomatic Efforts and International Involvement

In addition to physical warfare, Indonesia engaged in numerous diplomatic negotiations to secure international recognition. The timeline of major negotiations following the failed Hooge Veluwe talks ($12 \text{--} 24 \text{ April } 1946$) is: Linggarjati ($1946$), the formation of the Komisi Tiga Negara (KTN), the Renville Agreement ($1948$), the Roem-Royen Agreement ($1949$), the Inter-Indonesia Conference, and finally the Konferensi Meja Bundar (KMB) in The Hague ($1949$).

In the Linggarjati Agreement, the Dutch recognized Indonesian de facto sovereignty over only Java, Sumatra, and Madura. The Hooge Veluwe negotiations failed largely because the Dutch proposed that Indonesia become a Commonwealth of the Netherlands ($Persemakmuran Belanda$), which the Indonesian delegation—Mr. Suwandi, Dr. Sudarsono, and Mr. A.K. Pringgodigdo—firmly rejected. Internal disappointment over the Linggarjati results led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sutan Syahrir on $27 \text{ June } 1947$, as various political factions felt the agreement betrayed the ideals of the proclamation.

The United Nations (UN) intervened by forming the Komisi Tiga Negara (KTN) on $25 \text{ August } 1947$. This committee provided political, economic, and military recommendations and consisted of Australia (chosen by Indonesia), Belgium (chosen by the Netherlands), and the United States (as a neutral party).

Military Aggressions and the Road to RIS

The Dutch launched two major military aggressions. During Agresi Militer Belanda II on $19 \text{ December } 1948$, they captured and exiled Sukarno and Hatta. In response, General Sudirman led a guerrilla campaign from outside Yogyakarta. On $1 \text{ March } 1949$, Lieutenant Colonel Suharto led the Serangan Umum to prove the continued existence of the Republic of Indonesia to the world. Following the KMB results, the Republic of Indonesia Serikat (RIS) was established on $27 \text{ December } 1949$, though this federal form was largely seen as a Dutch tactic to maintain influence.

Transition from Federalism to the Unitary State

The federal structure of RIS did not last long ($27 \text{ December } 1949 \text{--} 17 \text{ August } 1950$). By April $1950$, only three states remained: the Republic of Indonesia, the State of East Indonesia (NIT), and the State of East Sumatra (NST). By May $1950$, NIT and NST joined the Republic. RIS was formally dissolved, and Indonesia returned to a unitary state (NKRI) on $17 \text{ August } 1950$. A major constitutional impact of the RIS period was the temporary adoption of the UUD RIS, which was later replaced by the UUDS 1950 (Provisional Constitution of $1950$) until a new constitution could be drafted by the Konstituante.

Internal Security Challenges and Rebellions

Early independence was plagued by ideological and regional rebellions. The PKI Madiun rebellion of $1948$ was closely linked to Vice President Hatta's RERA (Reconstruction and Rationalization of the Armed Forces) policy, which reduced military personnel and dissolved people's militias, causing deep resentment among those affiliated with the PKI.

Regional rebellions like those led by Raymond Westerling (APRA) and Andi Azis in Makassar aimed to maintain the federal state (RIS) and protect the status of former KNIL members within the federal military (APRIS). Andi Azis specifically opposed the arrival of TNI troops from Java to Makassar, fearing they would prioritize anti-federal interests. Another major conflict was the DI/TII movement; when the Siliwangi Division migrated from West Java to Yogyakarta following the Renville Agreement, Kartosuwiryo's followers refused to follow, viewing the migration as a surrender to the Dutch.

The Era of Liberal Democracy (1950-1959)

Following the move to a parliamentary system on $14 \text{ November } 1945$, Indonesia experienced frequent cabinet changes due to motions of no confidence in the parliament. Key characteristics of this parliamentary system included the Prime Minister serving as the head of government while the President acted only as the head of state, with the cabinet being responsible to the parliament ($KNIP/DPR$). Sutan Syahrir was the primary proponent of this shift away from the presidential system explicitly mandated by the $1945$ Constitution.

Notable cabinets during this period included the Natsir Cabinet (Masyumi), Sukiman Cabinet (Masyumi), Wilopo Cabinet (PNI), and the Ali Sastroamijoyo I and II Cabinets (PNI). The Ali Sastroamijoyo I cabinet is celebrated for hosting the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung from $18 \text{ to } 24 \text{ April } 1955$. The Wilopo cabinet fell due to the Tanjung Morawa incident, a clash between police and farmers over plantation land. The Sukiman cabinet fell due to the signing of the Mutual Security Act (MSA) with the United States, which was seen as violating the "free and active" ($bebas aktif$) foreign policy.

Economic Policy and National Development

The early national economy suffered from hyperinflation caused by the uncontrolled circulation of Japanese and NICA currency. To combat the Dutch economic blockade, the government implemented the "Rice Diplomacy" with India ($1946$), established the Indonesia Office (Indof) in Singapore, and launched the National Loan Program ($Program Pinjaman Nasional$).

I.J. Kasimo, as Minister of Food Affairs, initiated the "Kasimo Plan," a three-year production plan ($1948–1950$) focused on achieving food self-sufficiency through regional transmigration to Sumatra and preventing the slaughter of livestock essential for farming. Other economic efforts included the "Program Benteng" by Sumitro Joyohadikusumo to strengthen indigenous entrepreneurs (which largely failed due to the "Ali-Baba" practice where indigenous "Ali" entrepreneurs merely provided names for ethnic Chinese "Baba" businessmen) and the issuance of ORI (Oeang Republik Indonesia) on $1 \text{ October } 1946$.

Guided Democracy and the Decree of 5 July 1959

In response to the failure of the Konstituante to draft a new constitution and increasing political instability, President Sukarno issued the Presidential Decree of $5 \text{ July } 1959$. Its contents were: the dissolution of the Konstituante, the reinstatement of the $1945$ Constitution ($UUD 1945$), the invalidation of UUDS $1950$, and the formation of the MPRS and DPAS. This marked the start of Guided Democracy.

A key deviation in this era was the appointment of MPRS members by the President rather than through elections. In foreign policy, Sukarno initiated the Trikora ($Tri Komando Rakyat$) on $19 \text{ December } 1961$ to liberate West Irian. Due to disappointment over Malaysia's election to the UN Security Council, Indonesia withdrew from the UN on $7 \text{ January } 1965$ and attempted to form CONEFO (Conference of The New Emerging Forces).

The New Order (Orde Baru) and Development

The New Order was born from the chaos following the $G\text{-}30\text{ S/PKI}$ incident. On $12 \text{ January } 1966$, student groups like KAMI and KAPI led the Tritura (Three Demands of the People): the dissolution of the PKI, the reshuffling of the Dwikora Cabinet, and the lowering of prices. This led to the Supersemar (Order of March $11$, $1966$), giving General Suharto the authority to restore order. Suharto was officially inaugurated as the $2\text{nd}$ President on $27 \text{ March } 1968$.

Policies of the New Order focused on political stability through the "Dwifungsi ABRI" (dual role of the military) and the simplification of political parties. In $1973$, Islamic parties (NU, Parmusi, Perti, PSII) were fused into the Partai Persatuan Pembangunan (PPP). The government also implemented the "Asas Tunggal," mandating Pancasila as the sole ideology for all organizations, and provided P4 ($Pedoman Penghayatan dan Pengamalan Pancasila$) training. Economic development was supported by international aid from groups like IGGI ($Inter-Governmental Group on Indonesia$), established in $1967$.

Reform Era and Modern Leadership

The Reform Era sought to eliminate KKN (Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism) and establish democratic term limits ($2$ terms maximum). Under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the government established institutions like the Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) to fulfill its anti-corruption agenda. Looking toward the present, the presidency of Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla ($Jokowi-JK$) is defined by the "Nawacita" (Nine Priorities) program and a focus on Indonesia's role as a maritime nation under the "Maritime Axis" foreign policy.

Key Cultural and National Figures

Several individuals made irreplaceable contributions to the nation. Wage Rudolf Supratman is the composer of the national anthem, "Indonesia Raya." Moh. Hatta is recognized as the architect of Indonesia's independent and active foreign policy. BM Diah is credited with saving the original handwritten draft of the Proclamation. In regional leadership and scholarship, figures like Buya Hamka (Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah) and I Gusti Ngurah Rai (hero of Bali) remain central to the national identity.