Founding of Singapore

1. Singapore: From a Fishing Village to a British Possession

1.1. The search for a new British settlement led Raffles to Singapore. Pg 7

1.2. However, there was a small group of Malays, Chinese and Orang Laut settlers on the island. The settlers generally depend on growing fruit and fishing for ther livelihood. Pg 8

1.3. We know the history of Singapore before 1819, for example, Chinese sources state that the Temasek was a trading centre in the 14th century. Pg 8

1.4. Singapore's old name was Temasek. Pg 8

1.5. At that time Singapore was coverd by jungle. Pg 7

2. British Reaction to Dutch Monoply of Trade

2.1. The British traders who came to trade in the Malay Archipelago worked for a trading company called the East India Company (EIA). Pg 6

2.2. The British managed to establish two trading settlements at the Penang and the Bencoolen. Pg 6

2.3. In 1818, Sir Stamford Raffles was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Beecoolen. Pg 6

2.4. By the early 19th century, Britians trade with China had become very important. Pg 6

2.5. From there, he saw how the Dutch were spreading their monoply of trade to more and more and more areas in the Archipelago. Pg 6

2.6. Raffles was strongly opposed to the Dutch action and wrote "It is clear that the object of the Dutch is to control all the trade in the Archepelago namely the Straits of Melaka and the Sunda Straits, they have also power at all times to disrupt our China Trade."- Sir Stamford Raffles. Pg 6

3. The Signing of the 1819 Treaty

3.1. After the British signed the treaty the British flag was raised and a volley was fired by the guns on shore and on the ships. Page 5

3.2. Febuary 16, 1819 a small crowd gathered at the Pendang to witness a important event. Pg 4

3.3. Tengku Hussien and the Temenggong signed a treaty allowing the British to set up a trading arrangement. Pg 4

4. The Dutch and the British in the Malay Archipelago

4.1. The Dutch controlled most of the Archipelago trade. Pg 5

4.2. The Dutch were able to control the trade because thay occupied many areas in the Archipelago like Melaka and Java. Pg 5

4.3. The Dutch did not allow the British and the European ships to trade but the Dutch allowed Batavia and Java to trade. Pg 6

5. Why was Singapore Chosen

5.1. Raffles believed that Singapore was an ideal place for the British to start a trading settlement. Pg 8

5.2. Sir Stamford Raffles was impressed with what he saw and later wrote: "At Singapore I have found advantages far superior to what the other islands had to offer. It is located at the southern entrance of the Straits of Melaka, thus, in a commanding position to protect our ships as they sail from India to China. It has also been my good fortune to discover on of the safest harbours in the area (for protecting ships from stormy winds). Singapore is every thing we could desire. It will soon rise in importance and break the Dutch monopoly of trade in the Archipelago. Pg 8

6. Singapore: A British Trading Settlement

6.1. On January 29, 1819, Raffles together with Farquhar, landed on the island and met with the Temenggong. Pg 9

6.2. After exchanging friendly greetings, Raffles explained to the Temenggong that the British wanted to start a trading settlement there. Pg9

6.3. According to the plan, the Temmenggong sent his men to one of the Riau islands to invite Tenku Hussein to Singapore..

6.4. The Temmenggong then told Raffles the story of how Tengku Adul Rahman became Sultan instead of his elder brother, Tengku Hussein, who was the rightful heir. Pg 9

6.5. After listening to the story, Raffles came up with a plan that would allow the British to start their trading settlement here in Singapore. Pg 11

6.6. The Temenggong was agreeable but informed Raffles that the island was part of Johor-Riau sultanate under control of Sultan Abdul Rahman. He also told Raffles that the Sultan could only give the British permission to set up a trading settlement here. Pg 9

6.7. However, the Sultan was under the control of the Dutch, and Raffles knew that the Dutch would not allow the British to occupy Singapore. Pg 9

7. Singapore: A British Possession

7.1. The treaty was signed on February 6, 1819 only gave the British permission to start a trading settlement in Singapore. Pg 11

7.2. Singapore wad under the British control until 1963. Pg 11