Why did the British come to SEA?
- Competition for more land (no more land in Europe and Africa, need for "new markets" outside Europe, competing with other European countries)
- Need for raw materials (industrialization, SEA rich in raw materials)
- Responding to Dutch's economic competition (controlled trade in Malay Archipelago, controlled movement of ships, trading for other European powers happens only at Batavia, high taxes imposed. Trade with China was lucrative and British needed a stopover point from their ships as they sailed from India to China. Afraid that trade with China would be affected if the Dutch occupy more areas.)
Why do they need to search for another trading settlement?
- Bencoolen and Peneng were unsuitable-too far from trading area
Why was Singapore chosen?
- Strategic and central position (heart of Malay Archipelago)
- Excellent harbour
- Dutch not on island
- Good supply of water
What problems did the British face in starting a trading settlement in Singapore?
- Dutch presence in region (S'pore ruled by Sultan Abdul Rahman but he was under the control of the Dutch)
- succession dispute (Raffles acknowledged Tengku Hussein as the rightful Sultan and signed treaty)
Importance of Anglo-Dutch treaty:
- Helped Britian and Dutch have separate spheres of influence
- broke Dutch monopoly by giving Britian legal rights to develop S'pore
- avert a war with Dutch
Sultan signed treaty between Crawfurd and Sultan Hussien, handing over the whole of S'pore to British to receive larger sums of money.
Chapter 6: How did WW2 affect Singapore?
Germany- had to pay a large sum of money to the Allies for damage caused by WW1 due to the 'War Guilt Cause'.
-humiliated country after WW1
-invaded Poland in 1938 to start WW2
-conquered most of Europe except for Britian and Russia.
Why Japan went to war:
- wanted to become masters of Asia
- needed raw materials for industry
- assumed that Europeans would be too busy fighting in Europe to protect their Asian colonies
- joined the Axis powers in Sep 1940
Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour. That resulted in many ships being destroyed and thousands losing their lives, hence preventing the Americans from stopping the Japanese.
Why did Japan attack SEA?
Wanting to be masters of Asia (P). It shared Germany's ambition of conquering more territories for itself (E). While Germany wanted to become masters of Europe, Japan wanted to be masters of Asia (E). Therefore they wanted to achieve their ambitions through their campaign of "Asia for Asians" by freeing SEA from western rule and develop them.
Western treatment of Japan made it seek desperate measures to get raw materials (P). Japan invaded China in 1931 and 1937 to seek raw materials. Western countries like USA protested against the invasion by imposing trade embargoes. (E). USA stopped selling to Japan certain items like airplanes and oil products. (E). Thus to carry on with her expanionist plans, Japan had to turn to SEA, which has many raw materials.
Need for raw materials (P). The Great Depression and rising Japanese population led her to search for economic security, hence Japan invaded China and SEA.(E) SEA was rich in tin, oil, timber and rubber. These raw materials would enable her to build its economy and war machinery.(E) Hence the trade embargoes placed on Japan prevented the import that Japan needed badly. SEA was the best option as the Europeans were too busy fighting the war in Europe to stop Japan from taking their colonies.
To defend Singapore, British built a naval base. Military airfields, underground bunkers and gun positions were set up.
Why were the British defeated?
- Occupied with defending homeland in Europe
- Unprepared to fight the Japanese
- Underestimated Japanese military (believed that Japanese were inferior)
- Japanese had superior military force ('Zero' fighter planes were modern)
- Japanese force led by strong leader-Yamashita (decisive)
"The most important reason why the British was defeated was due to the high morale of the Jap soldiers. How far do you agree?"
GF-High morale of Jap soldiers.
AF:
- British unpreparedness and lack of military supplies. (poorly equipped with outdated weapons and equipment
- Jap military preparedness and superiority (planned attacks, set up intelligence services, planned attack on Pearl Harbour so America can't stop Japs' plan)
- Priority of British (Europe and North America war more important, hence could not send enough warplanes and battleships)
- Promise of "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere" (effects of Jap propaganda weakened defenses of Malaya and S'pore. Claim for "Asia for Asians" gained some co-operation for local people. Hence it is easier and quicker for Japs to defeat British)
Reasons for Japanese victory:
- Invasion was well-planned
- Excellent tactics and co-ordination/Superior Military intelligence of the Japanese.
- Superiority of Japanese army (military weapons, equipment and technology)
- Psychological advantage of Japanese.
- Effects o Japanese propaganda
Reasons for British failure:
- British was not well-prepared for invasion
- Inexperience and low moral of soldiers in Malaya
- Inferiority of British army (lack of military equipment and naval defence)
- Britain alone against Axis powers.
Impacts on Jap Occupation on locals:
- Serious shortage of food (S'pore's food & available resources used to support Japan's war efforts)
- Rationing introduced.
- Rise of black markets
- Banana notes worsened situation (more notes, prices soared. Life became harder)
- Decline in economy
Social:
- Lived life in fear of harsh punishment (Sook Ching)
- Jap propaganda (Media, newspapers, Schools)
- Promoted Japanese spirit, sang Jap national anthem, Jap lessons via radio & newspapers.
- Overcrowding and spread of diseases, shortage of food, water, electricity
- Singapore renamed Syonan-to
- Locals had to bow to Jap officers
- S'pore came under military government-used fear to rule people
- British and other Europeans taken as POWs
- Treated Chinese harshly, were slightly better to Malays and Indians. POWs sent to railway camps
- Rise of anti-Jap resistance fights eg Force 136, Lim Bo Seng
Consequences of Jap occupation after WW2?
- overcrowded living conditions, poor sanitation, lack of health services & unemployment, lack of food and housing
- shortage of water/electricity, disruption of telephone services
- More anti-British sentiments: many strikes. MCP encouraged workers to join Communist-controlled trade unions to fight for better working conditions and pay. Maria Hertogh riots and Anti-National service riots were expressions of anti-British sentiments.
- Hostilities among locals increased.
- Loss of British prestige-think British failed to protect Singapore and should leave Singapore. Many countries which were under colonial rule gained independence.
- Rise of local nationalism-many countries which were under colonial rule gained independence.
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