Was there Singapore before 1819 Things to note

Was there Singapore before 1819?

Things to note… • Temasek Singapura • Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals) -Refers to written accounts on historical events - Tells that Singapore known as Temasekmeaning sea Town or Sea port

Things to note… • Munshi Abdullah (p 3) • Sang Nila Utama • Legend? ? ?

Things to note… • Historians? • Wang Dayuan (p 5) • Archaeological Evidence (p 7/8 } • Parameswara (p 9) The Singapore Stone (p 16)

Who was the founder of Singapore?

Sir Stamford Raffles? Born: 6 -Jul-1781 Birthplace: Caribbean Ocean Died: 5 -Jul-1826 Location of death: London, England 1819

Why was Singapore chosen

Why British needed a new port in the Malay Archipelago… 1. To break Dutch monopoly of trade in the Malay Archipelago § Dutch – biggest rival of British in MA § Dutch controlled most of MA trade § Restricted British and other Europeans to trade only at Batavia in Java. § Charged high fees for use of port and heavy taxes on goods bought and sold.

2. To protect Britain’s trade with China • Early 19 th Century…Britain had lucrative trade with China • Needed a suitable port for British to stopover to replenish supplies. • British ports of Penang n Bencoolen not suitable.

3. Unsuitability of Penang & Bencoolen • Both ineffective • Penang – too far north of Straits of Melaka • Bencoolen – at the wrong side of Sumatra

Penang and Bencoolen – NOT suitable • Not located near the main trading areas in the Malay archipelago • Not along the China trade route • British had profitable trade with China • Needed a suitable port along the China trade route

Sir Stamford Raffles • 1818 - appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen • Saw Dutch spreading monopoly of trade to more areas • Felt British needed a new port to compete with Dutch • Needed a port near the Malay archipelago & near Melaka

Search for a new settlement Raffles Farquhar

28 January 1819 • Raffles sighted Singapore • Island covered in jungle • Small groups of Malays, Chinese and Orang Laut seen • Malays lived in villages in N. bank of S’pore river • Temenggong was incharge

Chinese grew gambier

Why was Singapore chosen? 1. Good location - Located in the middle of the Malay Archipelago - Located along the China trade route - Could protect ships sailing from India to China 2. No Dutch on the island 3. Plenty of drinking water 4. Deep harbour 5. Harbour protected from strong winds

29 January 1819 • Raffles landed with Farquhar • Met Temenggong • Temenggong informed Raffles that Singapore was part of the Johor-Riau Sultanate • Sultan Abdul Rahman controlled Singapore • Only Sultan could give British permission to set up a trading settlement • Sultan under Dutch control

Solution • Brought Sultan’s elder brother, Hussein, to Singapore secretly • Recognised him as the rightful ruler of the Johor-Riau Sultanate • Renamed him Sultan Hussein • Obtain Sultan Hussein’s permission to start a trading settlement

6 February 1819 Treaty signed by Raffles, Sultan Hussein and the Temenggong of S’pore

Treaty • A written agreement between two or more governments or groups of people

Terms of 6 Feb 1819 Treaty 1. British would be allowed to set up a trading settlement in the southern part of Singapore. 2. Sultan would receive $5, 000 a year 3. Temenggong would receive $3, 000 a year

6 February 1819 Treaty • Only gave British permission to set up a trading settlement in Singapore • British did not own Singapore

After the signing of the Treaty A British Flag was raised on Singapore

How did the Dutch and the British react to the 6 Feb 1819 treaty? • Dutch: Dutch very angry with Raffles claimed that Singapore belonged indirectly to them. made official protests to the British

• British government Not happy with Raffles for starting a dispute between Britain and Holland • British East India Company Unhappy with Raffles for making the Dutch angry (remember: the Dutch still controlled the Malay Archipelago trade routes)

Why did Britain and Holland decide not to go to war over Singapore? • Britain Did not wish to antagonise the Dutch Needed to use Holland as a friendly and strong buffer state against enemy countries in Europe

• Holland: Holland Did not want to anger Britain Holland was nearly bankrupt due to the Napoleonic Wars Holland could not afford any more wars

Solution • Negotiated for a peaceful settlement • The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 17 March 1824, also called the Treaty of London

Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 • Signed by Holland Britain • Holland Britain agreed to share influence over the Malay Archipelago • Areas north of the Straits of Melaka – British influence • Areas south of the Straits of Melaka – Dutch influence • Singapore and Malay Peninsula would come within the British sphere of influence • Melaka went to the British; the Dutch got Bencoolen

Map…

Singapore – possession of Britain? • 29 January 1819: 1819 Raffles landed on Singapore • 6 Feb 1819: 1819 Raffles, Sultan Hussein and Temenggong signed a treaty allowing British to start a trading settlement on Singapore • 17 March 1824: 1824 Britain and Holland agreed that Singapore would come within British sphere of influence • 2 August 1824: 1824 The British government officially signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein. Singapore would belong to Britain in exchange for large sums of money.

The New Settlement • Raffles was off to Bencoolen after 6 Feb 1819, where he was Lieutenant-Governor. • The job of starting the settlement fell to William Farquhar, who became Singapore’s first Resident. WILLIAM FARQUHAR ----->

Farquhar’s Problems 1. Singapore was covered with jungle Farquhar’s men had to clear the land at the Singapore River so that they could build huts to live in 2. Had to defend Singapore Had to build gun positions and mounted guns facing the big sea

Farquhar’s Problems 3. Needed people to trade and live in Singapore Settlements must have people Invited people from Melaka to settle in Singapore Stationed officials to invite passing ships to stop by Singapore

Farquhar’s Problems 4. Food Singapore was a fishing village People from Melaka who had come down brought with them food such as chickens, ducks and fruits, which they sold at high prices 5. Violence and disorder A lot of crime Farquhar started a police force, but it was too small to keep law and order successfully 6. Pests Rats and centipedes Kill a centipede/rat, get money Successful campaign!

The ‘Real’ Founder of Singapore • Raffles? • Farquhar? • John Crawfurd? (See textbook, pages 32 -34 and 36 -39)

One reason why Raffles chose Singapore was because of her harbour. She had a very good harbour that made her a very good choice as a port. Singapore’s harbour was deep and very safe. Ships were sheltered from strong winds. Further, Singapore was ideal as she was located along the China trade route. Singapore would be able to provide facilities for British ships coming from China to dock, refit and replenish

History of Singapore before 1819

Archeological evidence

Archeological evidence • Artefacts found • E. g – Singapore stone of 12 th or 13 th century • 1843 -British blew up the stone • No one can read the writing on the stone

Significance of the Singapore Stone • Tells us: 1. History of Singapore goes far back before Raffles 2. People who lived in Singapore could read and write