ANGLICAN HIGH SCHOOL
SECONDARY 1 HISTORY
CHAPTER 3
Name:
Hannah
Reg No:
Class: 1J
Date: 24 Apr 2025
Chapter 3: How did British and External Developments Affect
Singapore’s Growth as a Port City from 1819 to 1942?
Singapore’s Free Port Status
* Free port status was put in place in 1819 – Traders could trade freely in Singapore and were not required to pay tax.
* Singapore became a transhipment point and centre for entrepot trade.
* Singapore was easily accessible, tax-free and centrally located place for the East-West trade.
Transshipment
Entrepot
Transfer of goods from one ship to another while in transit at the port
Repackaging and redistribution of imported manufactured goods and regional produce.
British rule 1819 to 1824
* Singapore was a trading settlement and was technically ruled by the Sultan and Temenggong (local chief).
* British control was present through the Resident:
* Farquhar
* Raffles
* Crawfurd
* 1824 – Singapore was transferred to the control of the East India Company.
Britain under the EIC
End of EIC Rule
* EIC had been in decline since the 1830s due to the collapse of the tea trade.
* Inability to fund the Straits Settlements – EIC started to cut costs and refused to improve the Straits Settlements.
* Indian Mutiny of 1857 – British government now took over the administration of India.
* The Straits Settlements were placed under administration of India.
Singapore as Crown Colony
* By 1867, the Straits Settlements was transferred to the direct control of the Colonial Office in London to be ruled as a Crown Colony.
* This marked a big change in the way Singapore was ruled.
* Why?
* EIC was a profit-making company
* British government believed that they had a civilising mission and sought to influence the world with their ideas.
Role of Executive Council:
Role of Legislative Council:
* Law making body.
* British officials.
* Non official members nominated by the British:
* Asian merchants and traders.
Singapore as a port-city in the 19th-20th century.
* Singapore’s status as a free port brought a lot of trade to Singapore. An increase in trade brought an influx of immigrants to come and work in Singapore. By 1867, the Chinese community made up 65% of Singapore’s population. They numbered 55,000 in total. Many of them escaped war, famine and poverty in China. They worked in Singapore as coolies (labourers).
* With an influx of immigrants, the British faced many concerns.
* Maintaining law and order was one of the concerns. Robberies, murders and other crimes were common. There were a few crimes that were specifically related to the influx of immigrants.
Sub-Inquiry:
How effective were British measures to maintain law and order in colonial Singapore between 1819 and 1942?
1. What problems did the British face after Singapore became a British trading post in 1819?
Problems Faced by the British
Details (Examples and Elaboration)
Labour Abuse of Coolies
Secret Society Problems
Prostitution
Piracy
2. Think (Individually): Fill up only one column by referring to the textbook pages. Be prepared to share your findings with your partner.
Partner A: British Efforts Before 1867
East India Company (1824–1858)
British Government’s India Office in London (1858–1867)
Partner B: British Efforts After 1867
Crown Colony (1867–1942)
British administration
(Who was in-charge?)
(Refer to Coursebook p. 86)
Who made the key decisions in Singapore?
Who did he have to report to?
(Refer to Coursebook p. 90)
Who made the key decisions in Singapore?
* governor of the straits settlement
Who did he have to report to?
* colonial office in london
Who was he assisted by in running Singapore?
* executive council (high-ranking british officials)
* legislative council
* high-ranking officials and asian and european traders
What efforts did the British take to keep Singapore safe?
(Refer to Coursebook p. 91)
Who was appointed Singapore’s first full-time Commissioner of Police in 1857?
Thomas Dunman
(Refer to Coursebook p. 91)
What 2 things did he do as Commissioner of Police?
* he fought for better working conditions and higher wages to attract men into the police force
(Refer to Coursebook p. 102)
Who was appointed the first Protector of the Chinese in 1877?
(Refer to Coursebook p. 102–103)
List down what the Protectorate did to solve the following:
1. Labour Abuse of Coolies
2. Secret Society Problems
3. Prostitution
I
What was the impact of these efforts?
(Refer to Coursebook p. 93)
Why was he unable to solve the large-scale riots?
* rioters usually outnumbered the police
(Refer to TB p. 129 Source A)
What do the figures suggest about the resources available before 1865?
* soldiers had to be sent in to help
(Refer to Coursebook p. 102)
What did the 1890 Dangerous Ordinance Act do?
Why was it effective to stop large-scale riots?
3. How did the British deal with Piracy (Tb p. 104)
Problems with Piracy:
* Trading ships were often attacked by pirates. Their cargoes were taken, and travellers killed or sold as slaves.
* Pirates could be seen attacking ships just outside Singapore harbour.
Impact on trade:
Response to pirates:
* India sent gunboats to patrol waters and fight piracy.
* Since the Straits government only had three gunboats in its fleet, it was unable to curb piracy effectively.
1870s:
4. Write down the conclusion done with your teacher in class.
How effective were British measures to maintain law and order in colonial Singapore between 1819 and 1942?
*
Social Services (Education & Healthcare) in Singapore from 1819 to 1942
Education in Singapore from 1819 to 1867
* The British government provided few education and healthcare services for the people in Singapore.
* Due to constant lack of funds and the majority of the population’s disinterest in settling down and raising families, the provision of social services was not a top priority for the British government.
Medium
British Approach towards Education
English Medium Schools
Malay Medium Schools
Tamil Medium Schools
Chinese Medium Schools
* From the founding of Singapore till 1867, the British paid little attention to education and left the development of education in the hands of other groups.
* Christian missionaries, European traders
* Very few educational opportunities for children before 1867
Education in Singapore from 1867 to 1942
* From 1867, educational activities in Singapore grew.
* Necessary to create a supply of English-speaking clerks in the government and companies.
* Singapore’s rapid socio-economic development after 1867
* British colonial government needed more support for their growing administration
* The British government began promoting English as the medium of instruction, providing government grants to schools who taught the language to students who did not speak it.
* Non-governmental agencies took charge of education that did not directly support trade and government administration in Singapore
* From 1911 onwards, there were more Chinese schools run by the Chinese community, who did not tolerate any interference from the British government → No government interference
* Mission schools established by Christian missionaries were given free rein over how their schools were run → No government interference
Effectiveness of British efforts
How successful were British efforts to improve education in Singapore?
Successful
Unsuccessful
________________
Healthcare in Singapore from 1819 to 1942
Healthcare problem
What is this disease? How did it spread?
Tuberculosis
What is it?
How did it spread?
Cholera
What is it?
How did it spread?
Malaria
What is it?
How did it spread?
British efforts in managing healthcare in Singapore
Were the British successful in managing healthcare in Singapore?
Effective
Ineffective
Facilities in Singapore from 1819 to 1942 (Pg 111-112)
* Improvements in Singapore’s port facilities began in the 1850s, along with the expansion of Singapore’s trade and arrival of steamships
* Old Harbour at the Singapore River became more overcrowded → Insufficient space to build more warehouses for storing goods and coal, or build dry docks for ship-repairing
* 1852: The New Harbour was built between the southern coast of Singapore island and two smaller islands – Pulau Brani and Pulau Blakang Mati
* Benefits of the New Harbour
* Deep waters, which allowed steamships and sailing ships to sail right up to it
* The two smaller islands sheltered it from strong winds and big waves
* Further expansion of port facilities from the late 1800s to early 1900s
* Built new wharves, docks, storehouses and machine shops
* Catered to the increasing world demand for tin and rubber, and rapid opening of plantations in Singapore and Malaya
* Railway system set up to link Singapore’s port to parts of Malaya
* 1924: Causeway between Singapore and Malaya was opened
* These improvements helped Singapore become one of the busiest and most prosperous ports in Asia
External Developments
Read Pages 113 to 123 and fill out the table below.
External Development
Impact/Effects on Singapore
Opening of the Suez Canal
* 17 November 1869
* Ships no longer had to travel via Cape of Good Hope
* Reduced travel time
* Eg. The journey from London to Singapore now only took 50 days instead of 120 days
Tin and Rubber Industries
* Increasing economic development in Malaya due to increased stability
* Boom in tin and rubber industries increased global demand for tin and rubber
The Great Depression
* 1929
* Triggered by the Wall Street Crash
* An era of economic hardships that affected Singapore’s trade and industries