History

Question 1

State three problems faced by Singaporeans in post-war Singapore.

Answer 1

Shortage of housing, shortage of food, shorting of educational opportunities.

Question 2

Explain the problem of shortage of housing

Answer 2

In post-war Singapore, the availability of houses were scarce, forcing people to live in cramped, overcrowded spaces. Rents were also high because of this housing shortage.

Question 3

Explain the problem of shortage of food

Answer 3

Due to the disruption of trade, food was insufficient as sunken ships blocked entry of essential items into Singapore. The black market proceeded to thrive, with food being sold at high prices.

Question 4

Explain the problem of shortage of educational opportunities

Answer 4

Many children were unable to attend school during the Japanese Occupation, but after the war ended, students discovered that there were insufficient schools, teachers and textbooks to meet the demand for education.

Question 5

State three examples of discontent by the locals in Singapore

Answer 5

Low wages and working conditions, Chinese middle school being unfairly treated by the British, the Maria Hertogh case (offending Malays and Muslims)

Question 6

List demands on the British government

Answer 6

Demand for citizenship, demand for better treatment of local civil servants, demand for local political involvement.

Question 7

Explain the demand for citizenship

Answer 7

From 1951, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce (very powerful) petitioned the British government to consider granting citizenship to China-born Chinese immigrants over the age of 21. This was so that the Chinese who now called Singapore home would be able to gain the same privileges as existing citizens, which was not happening at the time.

Question 8

Explain why locals joined trade unions

Answer 8

The local workers wanted to secure better wages and working conditions, and these trade unions arranged events like strikes to push employers to agree to these demands. This happened during food and housing shortages.

Question 9

Explain reasons for the Maria Hertogh riots

Answer 9

Muslims and Malays thought the judgment by the British were unfair, who had taken the side of the Dutch. As a result, they rioted to show their discontent, attacking Europeans and Eurasians.

Question 10

Explain the demands made by local civil servants

Answer 10

Local civil servants wanted better treatment. While British officials enjoyed better pay and quality, locals did not experience the same despite being equally qualified. A 1952 decision to pay special family allowances to British officials further angered local civil servants, who opposed the government’s unequal treatment of them, demanding for their pay to be raised.

Question 11

Explain the demand for local political involvement

Answer 11

With increased political consciousness among the people in Singapore, political parties began to emerge and demand that local politicians began to be involved in Singaporean affairs.

Question 12

Explain constitutional changes

Answer 12

From 1946 to 1959, the British began to realise that even with Singapore under their rule, they could not govern Singapore in the same way they did pre-war. They introduced reforms to increase local involvement in the government, in recognition of the new political awakening and to get Singaporeans to continue co-operating with them.

Question 13

Explain increased voting rights

Answer 13

In 1948, limited elections were introduced. Eligible voters were allowed to vote for representatives in the Legislative Council for the first time, where these representatives could raise local issues and concerns.

Question 14

Explain increased representation

Answer 14

A commission conducted by a British official, Sir George Rendel in 1955, recommended limited self-government be granted to Singapore. This meant that the number of elected local members in government increased, as did local ministers, In 1959, control over the government was further increased with Singapore attaining internal self-government. Local Singaporeans now were able to elect representatives, and had a bigger say in how the country was run.

Question 15

State 3 Asian countries that gained independence in the 1940s and 1950s

Answer 15

India - 1947
Indonesia - 1949
Vietnam - 1954

Question 16

State 3 developments that led to constitutional change

Answer 16

Decolonisation, the threat of communism and the rise of political consciousness

Question 17

Explain the external developments leading to constitutional developments

Answer 17

The communist system, which espoused violence and the overthrow of a ‘bourgeois’ government to place workers in control, was seen as a threat. With Britain being anti-communist, they feared colonies like Singapore would turn communist in struggle for independence. This fear was heightened with communists in China triumphing in 1949.

As countries in Asia began to gain independence from their colonial rulers, many saw this as an omen that colonial rule in Asia would soon come to an end.

Question 18

Explain the internal developments leading to constitutional developments

Answer 18

After the Japanese Occupation, many people questioned British superiority, thinking it unfair that the British still held the most important positions in government. They doubted the capability of the British in ruling Singapore. By the 1950s, the demographics of Singapore had changed and more people were being born locally. This caused more interest in how Singapore was ruled, and people became aware of alternatives to colonial rule witnessing other colonies gain independence. This caused the British to proceed with constitutional developments to keep the locals co-operative.

Question 19

State 3 political parties that took part in the 1946-59 elections

Answer 19

Singapore Progressive Party (SPP, formed 1947)

Labour Front (LF, formed 1954)

People’s Action Party (PAP, formed 1954)

Question 20

State the name of 3 political leaders

Answer 20

Lee Kuan Yew (PAP), Tan Chye Cheng (SPP), Lim Yew Hock (LF)

Question 21

State the name of 3 members of the PAP

Answer 21

Lee Kuan Yew, Toh Chin Chye, Goh Keng Swee

Question 22

Explain the aspirations of political parties

Answer 22

Political parties wanted to work with the British to increase the local control over Singapore’s governance.

Question 23

Explain the aspirations of Chinese middle school students

Answer 23

They wanted to see the end of colonial rule as they saw the British as treating them unfairly

Question 24

Explain the aspirations of trade unions

Answer 24

Wanted the immediate end of colonial rule as they distrusted the British and thought they failed to help them as workers

Question 25

Explain why Chinese middle school students were disillusioned with the colonial government

Answer 25

Their schools received little support from the colonial government, with most of these schools being mainly set up by Chinese philanthropists. They had limited opportunity to pursue university education, and had to go to China for further studies. However, the British banned people who visited China from re-entering Singapore, meaning university education was no longer an option. They also had poor job prospects as even if they had decent education, they would only be able to work in unskilled or semi-skilled jobs unlike the Europeans and Eurasians who got skilled work. They felt unfairly treated, and their registration for NS in 1954 further reinforced this disillusionment.

Question 26

Explain the reasons for anti-NS riots

Answer 26

The British colonial government introduced a policy whereby males between the ages of 18 and 20 had to register for NS. Many of the Chinese middle school students were old enough to qualify for NS as the Japanese Occupation had disrupted their schooling. They did not want their studies to be further disrupted. There was also miscommunication which led students to believe they would be sent to fight in the Emergency in Malaya. They did not want to defend the colonial government who had neglected their interests. On 13 May 1954, 500 male and female students held a peaceful demonstration, petitioning for a postponement of their NS. The British cracked down on the demonstrations, causing riots to occur. When all was said and done, the British government relented and postponed the registration for NS.

Question 27

Explain the reasons for the Hock Lee Bus riots

Answer 27

People in the Hock Lee Bus Company were in trade unions, and went on strike for better pay and working conditions in late April 1955. The British feared this was a result of communist influence, as they had always been suspicious of trade unions (same goes for the trade unions of them). They deployed police to crack down on the riots, but instead a riot broke out as a result. Eventually, the riots came to an end with a settlement negotiated, but protests and rallies still continued.