chapter 7 hist

Front

external developments that influenced people's responses to British rule

Back

1. 1. weakening of colonial rule

2. 2. growing influence of communism

Front

weakening of colonial rule

Back

• - impact of Japanese victory over European powers in WWII

• - the destroyed myth of western superiority

Front

what is communism - communism VS democracy

Back

democracy

-> free elections where there are more than 1 party contesting

-> private and property ownership were allowed, people could own business, buy and sell goods

-> valued individual freedom

-> individual before community

communism

-> no elections. One party rule

-> goods to be allocated according to their needs

-> resources, factories and farms were all controlled by the state

-> individual freedom is seen as less important that the benefit of society

-> community before individual

Front

who were the ones that were more inclined to subscribe to communist ideas?

Back

• - those that felt that they were unfairly treated by those who governed them

Front

growing influence of communism - malayan communist party ( MCP)

Back

-> turned its attention to ending British rule and establishing communist governments in Malaya and Singapore

-> amid post-war difficulties< MCP worked to influence trade unions and Chinese medium schools

-> attacked rubber plantations and tin mines in Malaya as they were owned by the British

-> wanted to heighten British fears

-> MCP had considerable popular support

-> many people, especially those in the Chinese community had remembered how the MCP had helped in the resistance against the Japanese during WW2

Front

murder of 2 European rubber planters

Back

june 1948

-> British took action against the MCP

-> state of emergency was declared throughout Malaya

-> MCP declared illegal

-> malayan Emergency lasted from 1948-1960

Front

growing influence of communism - CCP victory in china

Back

-> china was the world's most populous country

-> given the sizeable Chinese immigrant population in Malaya and Singapore and their traditionally close ties to china, the British feared that the appeal of communism would grow

Front

the British response

Back

• -> these external developments threatened British rule

• -> did not expect this huge change in people's attitude

• -> fear the growing influence of communism '

• -> realized the need to need to adapt to address people's concerns in order to win back support

Front

british attempts to win local support

Back

adressing post war problems:

-> housing

-> food shortage

-> industrial unrest

-> rebuild economy

Front

housing challenges; meeting housing challenges

Back

-> housing was destroyed/ became run down during wartime

-> sg experienced a post-war baby boom

-> overcrowded conditions

-> majority of thw population lived in slums

meeting housing challenges

-> Singapore improvement trust (SIT) accelerated its building programme

-> established in 1927 by British to provide low cost housing

-> however, despite their efforts, housing shortages persisted and many continued to live in cramped conditions