Download - Chp 2 Who Was The Founder Of Singapore
Who was the founder of Singapore?
Rivalry between the Dutch and the British
Main issue: Trading monopoly in SEA > control of trade routes and ports
Dutch had Java and Melaka > others only to trade in Batavia > high fees and taxes
British had Bencoolen and Penang > unsuitable for China and India trade > too far
Therefore, Raffles saw the need of another port south of Melaka to challenge the
Dutch and protect British ships.
Singapore was the answer!!!!
Raffles chose Singapore because:
• She had lots of fresh drinking water. > suitable for setting up of new settlement
• She lay on the main trade route between China and India Europe. > challenge Dutch monopoly
• She had a natural deep harbour appropriate for big ships to anchor. > safe and had adequate features to protect British ships
How Singapore Came Under British Rule
• On the 28th of Jan 1819, Raffles with his British fleet reached St. John’s Island.
• On the 29th of Jan 1819, Raffles and Farquhar reached Singapore. They went to see the Temenggong, the chief of this island. Raffles asked permission from the Temenggong to setup a British settlement here.
• The Temenggong was willing but he did not have the power. Raffles had to seek the permission from the Sultan of Johor (Malaya). Craftily, he sought Tengku Hussein’s help.
• On the 6th of Feb 1819, Raffles set up a tent at the Padang and made Tengku Hussein the new Sultan of Johor. The Sultan and Temenggong signed a treaty with British, which allowed British to setup a settlement on the island, and in return, both Sultan and Temenggong would receive a big sum of money from the British every year.
• The short flag-raising ceremony marked the founding of the modern Singapore.
The treaty that signed away their lives…
Stamps commemorating the founding of Singapore
Why was the treaty important to the British?
• It allowed the British to set up a trading settlement in Singapore, which eventually led to the signing of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty that saw Singapore becoming a full colony under the British together with Penang and Melaka.
Problems that Farquhar encountered and the solutions for them: • Problem: Not many people knew about
the settlement in Singapore. Farquhar had to get the traders from the places nearby to come to Singapore and trade.
• Solution: He invited the immigrants from Malacca to come and trade and stationed an office at St. John’s Island to inform the trading ships passing by about the settlement in Singapore.
• Problem: The island was short of building materials, food, tools and other necessities.
• Solution: Farquhar ordered his men to go to Malacca and bring some food back. The traders in Singapore also brought some of the necessities here.
• Problem: There were pests like centipedes and rats all over the island. These pests hurt some people. The rats also destroyed the food supplies. Tigers were also a threat to the people here.
• Solution: Rewards were given to those people who killed these pests.
• Problem: Crimes like robbing and fighting often occurred.
• Solution: Farquhar set up a small police force but the problem cannot be solved.
Who really founded Singapore?
• Raffles?
• Farquhar?
• Crawfurd?
• The pioneers? • ALL?