Singapore+Under+British+Rule

__Introduction__ Singapore was a trading center previously in the Srivijaya empire before it was destroyed in the 14th century by the Majapahit empire. It later became part of Johor in the Malacca Sultanate. The sparsely populated island was ceded to the British East India Company through the efforts of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles during 1819. He founded the modern city of Singapore there that same year. In 1824, Singapore came under the complete control of the British and, although containing only a small fishing and trading village, quickly attracted Chinese and Malay merchants. The port grew rapidly, soon overshadowing Penang and Malacca in importance. With them Singapore became part of the Straits Settlements in 1826. The development of Malaya under British rule in the late 19th and early 20th century made Singapore one of the leading ports of the world for the export of tin and rubber.
 * __History of British Rule in Singapore__**

__British Colonization__ The request to establish a new trading post in Singapore by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles in 1819 was approved by the British governor in India, because they saw the need for a port of call to repair and protect their merchant fleet from pirates as well as to prevent any advances made by the Dutch in the East Indies. After surveying other nearby islands in 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles and the British East India Company decided on Singapore, which was to become their strategic trading post. D espite its central location and natural harbour, Singapore had been ignored by the Dutch in favour of other routes through the Strait of Malacca. Upon his arrival in Singapore, Raffles signed a treaty with the Sultan of Johor which granted the British East India Company the right to establish a trading post in Singapore in exchange for an annual fee, $5000 a year for Sultan Hussein and $3000 a year for the Temengong (the dominant currency used at that time was the spanish dollar). In 1823, an agreement was made for British possession of the entire Singapore in exchange for a yearly payment. On March 17, 1824, the Anglo-Dutch Treaty cemented British control over Singapore and distinguished British and Dutch holdings: The British controlled territory north of the Strait of Malacca (Singapore, Penang, and Malacca), and the Dutch controlled the area to the south (Indonesia).

__Creation of the Raffles Town Plan__ The Raffles Town Plan, also known as Jackson Plan was created in 1822 and was an urban plan drawn up to maintain some order in the urban development of the fledgling but thriving colony founded just three years earlier. It was named after Lieutenant Phillip Jackson, the colony's engineer and land surveyor tasked to oversee its physical development. Originally, William Farquhar who had governed Singapore from 1819 until 1823 had allowed the colony to flourish under the sheer volume of trade that passed through her port but had not organised the colony, and thus it grew haphazardly. Upon his return in October 1822, the colony's founder, Sir Stamford Raffles was displeased by the disorderliness, and formed a town Committee led by Lieutenant Jackson to revise the layout plan of the city. The Jackson Plan was thus formulated, created a plan of Singapore that would divide it into ethnic functional subdivisions and lay the colony out in a grid pattern. Ethnic residential areas were to be segregated into four areas.Although the concept of racial segregation was later abandoned, the effects such as the layout of the streets and the distinction of each district still has present-day effects.

__Founder of modern Singapore: Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles__ Sir Thomas Raffles is considered the founder of modern Singapore, which was initially part of the Straits Settlements that was established in 1926 and included Malacca, Penang, and Singapore. Raffles set up its basic ethnic neighbourhood structure and established the city as a major commercial hub in the region. In the period after Raffles’ departure from Singapore in 1823, Singapore grew to be one of the major ports in the world, the result of Malaya's rubber and tin trade, the advent of steamships, and the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The growing merchant population lobbied successfully for the Straits Settlements' status as a crown colony, which was granted in 1867 and meant that Singapore would be ruled directly by London. This status also led to the establishment of advisory legislative and executive councils (mainly of British subjects but with some local representation) and the British court and legal system.

__Crown Colony__ The Straits Settlements became a Crown Colony on 1 April 1867 as Singapore grew more and more. Under the Crown Colony, Singapore was ruled by a governor who was assisted by executive and legislative council and supervised by the Colonial Office in London. Singapore was more than just a trading settlement, it now also belonged to the British Queen - Queen Victoria.

On the day 15 February 1942, Singapore fell into the hands of the Japanese and that was the start of the Japanese Occupation. Singapore was given the new name "Syonan-to" by the Japanese and it meant "Light Of The South" or "The Radiant South". The citizens of Singapore suffered a lot and they spent the darkest days of their lives under the Japanese. Food shortage was a serious issue under the Japanese Occupation, thus resulting in a need for food rationing. 
 * __Japanese Occupation __**

After the Japanese occupation when the British returned, Singaporeans changed their views of the British colonial, causing many strike and riots to happen during the 1950s. Everyone wanted independence and more and more political parties were formed, example the People's Action Party (PAP) and the Labour Front which fought for the rights of Singaporeans, forcing the British to grant Singapore partial self govement.
 * __The End of Japanese Occupation__**

After the 1955 elections, David Marshall began the first chief Minister of Singapore but he stepped down soon after as he was disappointed with the British for not granting Singapore self govement. After David Marshall stepped down, Lim Yew Hock took over his seat and managed to solve the problems of riots and strike making the British pleased with him. He later went for the second Madeira talks in London in 1957 to ask for full self govement and the British granted his request that Singapore will gain self govern only after the 1959 elections. In the 1959 elections. PAP won and their leader, Lee Kuan Yew decided to merge with Malaysia in 1962, and that was when the British rule in Singapore finally ended.

__**Reasons for Choosing Singapore**__

There were several reasons that led Raffles to choose Singapore.

Firstly, it had a strategic location, lying at the southern tip of the Malay Archipalego. As most trading ships between China and India had to pass by the area as they travel along the Straits of Melaka, Singapore held a naturally good location as a harbour and trading area for the British.The East Indian Company.
 * __Strategic Location__**

Thus, Singapore was chosen because of Singapore's unique geographical position, which was directly below the Straits of Malacca, an major trade route for opium trade between China and the northern littoral of the Indian Ocean.



Also, Singapore has an excellent deep harbour with fresh water supplies. This allowed the big ships to call at the harbour easily and let damaged British ships to be repaired when they reach Singapore. Singapore also posessed fresh water supplies,and timber for repairing ships.
 * __Excellent Deep Harbour with Fresh Water Supplies__**

Thirdly, Singapore was sheltered from strong winds and waves as it was surrounded by the land masses of Malaysia and Indonesia. This made trade and sea activities safer at Singapore. Thus, Singapore was defendable.
 * __Safe for Trade__**

Furthermore, the British could not use Penang or Bencoolen as a port to safeguard their traders as well as the China trade. This was so as Penang was located around the northern area of the Malay Archipelago, hence too far north up to control the trade in Southeast Asia. On top of that, Penang had health hazards such as malaria and much piracy, risking the safety of the traders at sea. Bencoolen, on the other hand, was too far south, lying on the west coast of Sumatra, quite a distance away from the main trading routes. Thus, this resulted in Raffles making Singapore his choice as it helped refrain the Dutch from further stifling trades British had with China because Singapore was located south of Dutch and it controlled Melaka, which would ensure the safety of British traders and China trade.
 * __More Suitable Location__**

Moreover, Singapore was not under the control of Dutch, who held trade monopole in that area. The British government wanted to maintain peace with the Dutch because having a war is bad for business. Therefore, since Singapore as not under the control of Dutch, it would be an ideal choice for the British government to choose Singapore.
 * __Not Occupied by the Dutch__**

The seasonal wind system would take ships from west to east,or the other way around.

 * __ Legacies of British Rule in Singapore __**

__**English Language**__

British rule has left Singapore the English language, which is the most widely used international language. Today, Singapore is a representative parliamentary democracy modeled after the British, where elections for the government to make laws in the Parliament are held every 5 years by local Singaporeans. From there, the elected Prime Minister (PM) elects a few people from the elected members of Parliament (MPs) to form the cabinet, which implements the laws.

This democracy allowed citizens to form political parties, stand for elections and choose their own government. Voting is compulsory for all citizens of age 21 years old and above. Many political parties can participate in the elections and use all legal means to campaign to Singaporeans. Since the British made rules and laws for Singapore during its rule, Singapore's law system is based on the English common law and all citizens are to obey the laws.

__**Singapore's free trade policies**__

Singapore, as a small country with small scale located at the crossroads of the India-Asia trade ,has had a very different trade policies with its neighbours, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. A distinct hallmark of Singapore's trade is to **encourage foreign investment and free trade officially .**One reason is that due to small scale, Singapore always lacks local business, so foreign investment is a good way to develop its economy. And another reason: because of Singapore's strategic position from 19th century,British colonists need to provide a favorable policy for traders for it to compete with the established colonies of the day, especially the Dutch.

__**Distribution of areas in Singapore**__

The drawing of the Raffles Town Plan

Raffles Town Plan, created in 1822 by Sir Stamford Raffles and Lieutenant P. Jackson, together with Town Planning Committee, was planned with an aim to improve the state of settlements in Singapore, and to ensure that its growth follows an orderly pattern. Its main features included designated areas for people of different races to reside in ( Today's Kampong Glam area was allocated to the Malays, Bugis, Javanese and Arabs as the Sultan's palace was located there. Chinese immigrants were allocated the Telok Ayer district, Kreta Ayer, Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Pasoh. Similarly, Indian immigrants were allocated Kampong Chuliah, expanded to Market Street and then to Serangoon Road. European Town was centred around the Beach Road and Rochor Road vicinities. ), and also a clear layout of the roads. One area was seperated for commercial uses(Commercial Square) and activities and another for government functions. This map was crucial in the Singapore's urban development. These landmarks are still left today, such as Raffles Place(the old Commercial Square) and Serangoon Road.

__**International Port**__
 * Britain’s help in discovering and developing Singapore’s natural port helped turn Singapore into a prosperous trading port. Britain turned Singapore into a free port, one where traders could trade freely without being taxed on goods carried to and fro the ships. Because Singapore has no natural resources the British proposed entreport trade where Singapore allow imports from elsewhere to be exported through it without any taxes implied. Imported goods could also be checked and boats could rest and refuel before sailing again, providing an excellent “rest stop” for ships and their traders. This caused an increase in Singapore’s economic as more and more ships stop over at Singapore to refuel or repack their goods. Now, Singapore has became a world class port. Britain’s free port and entreport trade idea helped tremendously in developing Singapore’s port. **

__**Economic Development**__ With out the status as a successful port that the British established for Singapore, Singapore, a country without any nature resource and further lands can not be so developed as now.

__**Law and Order**__ Many boats that sailed to Singapore for trading were often threatened by the dangers of pirates, hence the British sent gunboats to patrol waters and fight piracy in the 1850s. The streamboats made the difference by being able to outrun the pirates easily. Thus problems of piracy ceased to be a threat thereafter. The British also set up the Detective Branch in 1862, which ultimately became the CID in 1931, improving the police force and law and order by the mid 1920s. This contributed to how peaceful it is now in the society and defence from external threats. With the Singapore police force being so developed now, it reassures Singaporeans' safety.

During the British rule, due to the Britain's free imigration policy and the success of business in Singapore, thousands of immigrants came to Singapore. These immigrants were Malays, Arabs, Indians, Chinese and Europeans who wanted to have a better life in this successful international port, Singapore. Singapore did not let them down, for the British created a lot of jobs and opportunities for the immigrants and they ruled this multi-racial society well by allocating seperate areas for different races, but in this way, there were limited opportunies for races to mix. After independence, although there were racial riots between the Malays and Chinese, which erupted on July 21,1964, Singapore government has done a quite good job to promote the multi-racial interaction and harmony.
 * __Multi-racial and religious society__**

__**References**__

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