chpt 1

• The British Empire began with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England between the late 16th and early 18th centuries
• At its height, the British Empire was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power
• By 1913 the British Empire held sway over 412 million people – 23% of the world population at the time
• By 1920, the British Empire covered 24% of the Earth's total land area
• The British Empire's constitutional, legal, linguistic, and cultural legacy is widespread
• At the peak of its power, the British Empire was described as "the empire on which the sun never sets"
• Main reason for British presence in Malaya

  TRADE, TRADE, TRADE
• By the 1800s, the British had established an Asian colony base in India and set up trading posts along the maritime trade route between India and China
• The British were competitors in the region with the Dutch
• Straits Settlements


  • Penang (1786)
  • Singapore (1819)
  • Melaka (1824)
• Straits Settlements


  • Governor
  • Assisted by Executive Council + Legislative Council
  • Initially reported to British administration in India
  • Became Crown Colony governed directly by London in 1867
  • Main objective: protect trade
• Policy of Non-Intervention


  Too costly to administer Malay states directly
• The Forward Movement (1874 – 1930)

  1. British shifted from a policy of non-intervention to one of active intervention

  2. Progressed gradually, 'tackling' one Malay state at a time

  3. By 1930, the British completed their complete control over all Malay states in the Malay Peninsula

  
• Reasons for British Intervention

  • Political factors
  • Economic factors
• The British felt threatened by the rise of other European powers like Germany and Russia
• In 1873, there were rumours of Germany negotiating for bases in Pulau Langkawi and Northern Malaya
• The Industrial Revolution led to demand for more raw materials like tin and rubber
• Large deposits of tin were discovered in the Malay states of Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang
• Rubber was introduced into the Malay Peninsula in 1877 and the first rubber plantations were established in 1896
• The British needed new markets to sell their mass-produced goods resulting from industrialisation
• The British felt the need to control the Malay states more directly to ensure access to these markets before other European powers
• The opening of the Suez Canal in 1867 led to increased trade volume in the region, making the Straits of Melaka busier and attracting pirates
• New bases were needed for British ships to patrol the waterways and protect trading activities
• The British sometimes needed to intervene to maintain stability in the region for trade, such as during succession disputes and conflicts between Chinese secret societies
• The case study of Perak illustrates this, with the dispute between Raja Abdullah and Raja Ismail over the throne
• Local elites wanted an orderly condition to facilitate trade, and saw the British as a convenient source of authority
• After the Perak War, local officials, merchants and businessmen wrote to the British to restore order as the chaotic situation had caused trade to come to a standstill
• Raja Abdullah was recognised as the Sultan of Perak, while Ismail was compensated with the title Sultan Muda and a monthly allowance
• Residential System


  • Resident - an appointed British Officer whose 'advice' must be heeded on all matters except the area of religion and traditional customs
  • Collection and control of revenue (tax) to be regulated with the Resident's 'advice'
• The Pangkor Treaty and Residential System marked the start of the Forward Movement
• War erupted

  Chaotic situation had caused trade to come to a standstill
• The Pangkor Treaty

  1874
• Raja Abdullah


  Recognised as the Sultan of Perak; Ismail was compensated with the title Sultan Muda + monthly allowance + some territories
• Resident


  An appointed British Officer whose 'advice' must be heeded on all matters except the area of religion and traditional customs
• Collection and control of revenue (tax)


  To be regulated with the Resident's 'advice'
• The Pangkor Treaty marked the start of the Forward Movement
• Resident


  • Maintain justice and order
  • Collect state revenue and control how it is spent
  • Develop state's resources
  • Administer the state
• Sultan

  • Remained as the ruler of the state
  • In charge of matters related to Malay customs and traditions
  • Took centrestage at all state occasions
• Differing interpretation of treaty terms

  British wanted to modernise the state and prevent future disputes, while Sultan Abdullah wanted to maintain the status quo
• James Birch had ambitious goals for Perak, e.g. modernise the state, strengthen the administration, increase tax revenue, abolish debt-slavery