Between WWI & WWII (1919-1940)

history cont.
Between WWI & WWII
Relations between China and Japan were strained–especially when Japan drew up “Twenty-One Demands” against China (i.e. political and economic demands). Most of the businessmen in Singapore naturally favored China and manifested that support through violent demonstrations in 1919 as well as tremendous financial support for China’s industry and education.  However, the [...]

Crown Colony: A Time of Economic Advancement (1867-1918)

hist. continued
“After years of campaigning by a small minority of the British merchants, who had chafed under the rule of the Calcutta government, the Straits Settlements [including Singapore] became a crown colony on April 1, 1867″ — no fooling    (Singapore, A Country Study, p. 24). During this time period the plantations for rubber, [...]

Colonial Era: A Booming Port (1826-1867)

Hist. continued
Trade
The tiny island of Singapore, once  an overgrown jungle filled with pirates, grew from a few thousand people at its founding to 85,000 people less than fifty years later (Singapore actually remained overgrown by jungle aside from the coastline for a while. But by the 1860’s a great portion of the forests had been [...]

Colonial Era: Establishing a British Colony (1822-1826)

Hist. continued
Early Growth
Singapore was like a magnet that attracted many people (both merchants and permanent settlers) from China and the surrounding islands (many natives left the Dutch-controlled Riau islands because of the government’s growing power over the people). However, Farquhar failed to receive sufficient resources for running the trading post because Raffles did not want [...]

Colonial Era: Establishing a British Colony (1819-1822)

History cont.
Vying For Power
While Britain was content to focus its attention on India, the Dutch sought to topple the Portuguese from power in the trading routes from India to China. They soon became the strongest European sea power after capturing Malacca from the Portuguese. However, due to bad policy, piracy, and war with France, the [...]

Pre-Colonial History

I love history! You have to know a little bit about it in order to understand your context. Like it or not, the more you understand your historical framework, the more you will understand how the present circumstances fit together in the world around you. A marginal understanding of your historical context can lead to [...]