history (chapter 7)

• Locals in Singapore post-1945 were unsatisfied with British rule, politically aware, had little confidence in British rule, and wanted more say in running their own matters
• The British were worried about economic/military/political stability in Singapore and recognised that it was a volatile state, hence were agreeable to give some concessions
• Impact of WW2 on Britain

  • Loss of British Empire/Power
  • Military: Lost about 65% of their available military strength, unable to enforce their imperial will to maintain their colonies
  • Economic: Devastation of their domestic economy, impending loss of colonies resulted in focus of the British government to post-war recovery
  • Political/Psychological: All colonies demanded independence, loss of faith in British rule, loss of Western superiority mentality
• The impact of WW2 on Britain manifested in reality as lower troops, less funding for their military, and multiple unrest in various colonies
• Decolonisation


  Freeing a country (colony) from being dependent on another country (colonial masters)
• A huge wave of decolonisation spread across the globe as empires started to collapse
• Role of the USA after WW2


  • The USA became the new world power
  • Their main belief was in the value of "freedom" and thus supported independence
  • Britain and other western nationals had to bow to USA pressure to de-colonize as they were receiving aid from USA
• Former colonies were slowly gaining independence from western nations, with Indonesia, India and Vietnam leading the wave of "decolonisation"
• Communism


  A system whereby all property is owned by the state and each person contributes and receives equally
• Communism was the direct opposing ideal to capitalism which the majority of the world adopted
• Britain's stance on communism


  • Britain was anti-communist
  • USSR was the main sponsor of communist movements and was spreading communism throughout the world
  • Britain was worried that its colonies would turn communist after being granted independence
  • Britain took a firm stance against any communist movements within their colonies while favouring any parties that was strongly Anti-communist
• Countries were divided into communist vs democratic nations, and they had to choose one side before they were granted independence. Their colonial masters tried their best to influence them into their own side (democratic or communist), often leading to violence as communists fought against the west
• Malayan Emergency

  A guerilla war against the British in their quest for independence
• MCP tactics


  1. Organising strikes until 1948 when hostilities finally broke out

  2. Carrying out assassinations, random attacks on plantations and destruction of infrastructure
• British response to the Malayan Emergency

  1. Increasing military patrols and checkpoints (initially ineffective)

  2. Intensifying efforts using the "Briggs Plan" which cut off supplies to the MCP

  3. The MCP was eventually defeated in 1960
• The impact of the Malayan Emergency was that the British recognised that they could not afford another war and thus turned towards granting independence or winning back loyalty from the locals
• British initiatives in Singapore post-1945

  1. Meeting housing needs: Setting up the Singapore Improvements Trust (SIT) to build low-cost housing (Failure)

  2. Solving food shortages: Creating 10 "people's restaurants" to feed the locals at 35c per meal (Success)

  3. Managing industrial unrest: Clamping down on trade unions by making them register their members (Failure)

  4. Rebuilding the economy: Rebuilding the Singapore port to increase trade (Success)
• The increase in locally-born people and the rise of political consciousness led to an increase in demands for political participation, though Indians and Malays did not care as they were not local
• Constitution


  A set of laws used to govern a country
• Changes to the right to vote in Singapore

  1. 1948: Only British subjects (Indians, Malays) could vote, manual registration, voting was optional

  2. 1955: Automatic registration, voting still optional

  3. 1957: Citizenship ordinance passed (Chinese could get Singaporean Citizenship)

  4. 1959: Automatic registration for voters, voting became compulsory
• Inclusion of locals within the government


  1. British recognised locals' desire for political involvement

  2. Rendel commission sent in 1953, proposed new changes to constitution in 1954 to assess which areas can be transferred to local control

  3. Rendel Constitution (1955): Creation of a council of ministers (4 British & 6 local ministers) headed by the British government, locals granted control over education, health, housing and trade, British ministers controlled defence, law, finance, foreign relations
• The Rendel Constitution was significant as it was the first time ever that locals were granted full control over sectors of society, though the British saw it as a way to keep control over Singapore while the locals saw it as a stepping stone to further independence
• PAP


  • Agenda: Multi-racial party, against colonial rule, immediate independence, merger with Malaya, focused on local support (trade, unions, chinese community)
  • Prominent leaders: Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee
• Labourfront


  • Agenda: Multi-racial party, willing to work with British, wanted a slow and smooth transition to local government, anti-communist, focused on workers support
  • Prominent leaders: David Marshall, Lim Yew Hock
• SPP


  • Agenda: Mainly English-educated elites, believed in working with the British, wanted a slow and smooth transition to local government, focused on the English-speaking population and the middle-class
  • Prominent leaders: John Laycock
• The Maria Hertogh riot in 1950 was sparked by the court ruling that ordered a Muslim girl to return to her birth Christian parents, leading to popular outrage against the British and 18 deaths, 173 injuries, and extensive damage
• The National Service riots in 1954 were caused by disruption of education, rumours of being dispatched to fight the MCP, and the feeling that Chinese education was being sidelined in favour of English education, leading to the closure of Chinese-medium schools and the formation of the Singapore Chinese Middle School Students' Union
• The Hock Lee bus riots in 1955 were fought between the workers from Hock Lee Bus Company and the British, with 4 people killed and 31 injured, due to grassroots agitation against the British, demands for better working conditions, and the intensity of the British against the Chinese
• The Labourfront won the 1955 limited self-government elections but had to form a coalition government, despite the British expecting the SPP to win. Their key campaign promise was full independence from the British.
• The First Merdeka Talks in 1956 led by David Marshall demanded full independence but were refused by the British who were worried that Singapore would turn communist, leading to Marshall's resignation.
• The Second Merdeka Talks in 1957 led by Lim Yew Hock resulted in a compromise of internal self-government, with locals gaining control over finance and law.
• The Chinese middle school riots in 1956 were sparked when Lim Yew Hock banned the Singapore Chinese Middle School Students' Union, leading to 13 deaths and over 100 injuries after the army was called in to restore order.
• The Labourfront lost power due to the British not wanting to work with David Marshall, their worry that independence would result in Singapore turning communist, and the violent clampdown on the CCHS students and Hock Lee Bus Riots turning popular opinion against them.
• The PAP won the 1959 internal self-government elections due to a shift in public support, with their key campaign promises being independence through merger, increased economic growth, housing, women's rights, educational opportunities, and workers' rights.
• Under internal self-government, the PAP government implemented infrastructure improvements like electrical and water works, and successful housing initiatives like relocating those affected by the Bukit Ho Swee fire, which increased public support for the PAP.
• The PAP's success was due to the internal self-government giving them free reign over many ministries, the visible improvements in society, their diversified measures of success, and their ability to focus on priorities beyond just independence.