Download - Singapore as a British Port
Singapore as a British Port Reasons
Raffles and the Malay Rulers at the Treaty of 1819
Reasons for Choosing Singapore as a port
1. British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly
2. Singapore’s Geographical Location 3. Singapore’s Natural Harbour
East India House, London, painted by Thomas Malton in 1800
Opium Factory in Calcutta (India)
1. British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly
East India Company (EIC) sold opium, which was produced in India, to the Chinese. In return, they bought tea from the Chinese and sold it in Europe. Why?
Context: The demand by Europeans for Eastern goods Spices and Tea from China was enjoyed by Europeans
Result: Britain’s trade with China had become very lucrative
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Due to lucrative trade, the British and Dutch were competing for control of the trade routes and resources in Asia
Who had more control of the trade routes and resources?
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Background information
Both British and Dutch were allies.
Reason: Britain’s position as one of the world’s leading powers was coming under threat from the growing strength of Austria, Prussia and Russia.
1. British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly
1. British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly
It is clear that the objective of the Dutch is to control all the trade. By controlling the only passes to the Archipelago, namely the Straits of Meleka and the Sunda Straits , they have the power to disrupt our China trade. From a letter written by Stamford Raffles
Dutch’s attempt to have trade monopoly The Dutch navy could prevent British ships from passing
through the area from its ports at Batavia and Melaka. The Dutch forced all British ships to trade at the Dutch
port of Batavia. All Asian trading boats only could trade at Dutch ports.
The British have now not an inch of ground to stand upon between India and China, nor a friendly port at which they obtain water and obtain refreshment.
Adapted from a letter written by Raffles in 1818 in A History of Singapore, 1819 – 1988 by Constance Mary Turnbull
1. British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly
Result How would Britain feel about Dutch trade monopoly? Britain was concerned about losing its trade in Asia What action should be taken then? They need to find a new base to break Dutch trade monopoly
Imagine that you are Raffles. What would be your criteria for selecting a new base? Why? 1) Port near to the routes through which ships
must sail into the Malay Archipelago (Straits of Sunda and Melaka)
2) Port near to the centre of trade in the Archipelago
Existing ports (Penang and Bencoolen) were not suitable as they are not near the routes or centre of trade in the Archipelago.
1st Choice: Semangka Bay, Padang
or Palembang
2nd Choice: Rhio, Siak, Pontianak
and Lingga
3rd Choice: Carmion Islands
Final Decision: Singapore
Solution: Selection of a New Base
Reasons for Choosing Singapore as a port
1. British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly
2. Singapore’s Geographical Location 3. Singapore’s Natural Harbour
Solution: Selection of a New Base
Why would Singapore’s location along the Straits of Melaka make it an ideal place for Britain to set up a trading settlement?
You have only to glance at the map to discover it
occupies a central position in the Straits of
Melaka. Singapore is located at the southern
entrance of the Straits of Melaka, giving us a
commanding position to protect our ships as they
sail from India to China.
A letter by Raffles
2. Singapore’s Geographical Location
Geographical Location Singapore was centrally located along the main
India-China trade route used by British ships and so ships going between East-West could stop by conveniently to trade, to rest and to replenish food and water
The British could control the southern entrance to the Straits of Melaka from Singapore
British warships could be sent out from Singapore to protect trading ships traveling in South East Asia
It is impossible to conceive a place combining more
advantages. It is within a week’s sail of China, still
closer to Siam (Thailand), Cochin-China and in the very heart of the Malay
Archipelago, or as the Malays called it, the Navel
of the Malay countries.
Adapted from a letter written by Raffles in June
1819
2. Singapore’s Geographical Location
Singapore is near to the main trading area in the Archipelago. Why would it be an ideal place for Britain to set up a trading settlement?
Reasons for Choosing Singapore as a port
1. British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly
2. Singapore’s Geographical Location 3. Singapore’s Natural Harbour
3. Singapore’s Natural Harbour
Safe harbour for protecting ships from stormy winds as well. Why would safe harbour make it an ideal place for Britain to set up a trading settlement?
The harbour can also provide facilities for ships to dock, refit and replenish
Plentiful supply of water to replenish water for ships
It has also been our good fortune to discover one of the safest harbors in the area , with every facility for protecting shipping in time of war. Singapore is everything we could desire. It will soon rise in importance and break the Dutch monopoly of trade in the archipelago. A letter written by Raffles
Raffles and his party set foot on the island of Singapore at 4pm on 28 January 1819
Bukit Larangan (Fort Canning)
Chinese gambier
plantation
Singapore River
Place where Raffles first
landed
Malay village Mangrove
swamp
Dutch trade monopoly and control of seas
CauseBritain feared that the Dutch might stop it from continuing its India-China trade
Britain decided to search for a new trading settlement
Effects
CONCLUSION
Singa-pore was chosen