CHAPTER 7: HOW DID THE LOCALS RESPOND TO THE BRITISH RULE AFTER WWII?

Members: Charmaine, Esther, Francesca, Grace, Li Yuan

IN THIS PRESENTATION…

The response of the local people to British rule.

Steps taken by the British government to prepare Singapore for limited self- government.

POST-WAR CONDITIONS

These conditions affected the response of the locals.

POST-WAR CONDITIONS

Joblessness – Poverty Shortage of food, water, electricity and

housing. Lived in slum conditions. Diseases – Overcrowding living conditions,

poor sanitation and lack of health services. British tried to solve the problems but some

of their efforts were inadequate.

HOW DID THE POST WAR CONDITIONS AFFECT RESPONSE OF LOCAL PEOPLE TO BRITISH RULE?

Difficult conditions caused workers (from port, factories, transport, business) to go on strikes and caused many work stoppages.

Strikes took place so often that many people remembered it as ‘The Year of Strikes’.

More than 300 strikes held by 70 000 workers in that year.

Strikes became worse with the involvement of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP).

The Communists stirred up the people’s feelings against the British through the trade unions.

In 1947, the British government passed a law requiring all unions to register with the government to control trade unions.

The locals were angry that the British failed to protect Singapore after ruling Singapore for over 100 years.

Though reluctant, the British realized that they have to introduce gradual change.

POOR LIVING CONDITIONS

RIOTS IN THE 1950’S

Maria Hertogh Riots & The Anti-National Service Riots

#1: MARIA HERTOGH RIOTS

#2 ANTI-NATIONAL SERVICE RIOTS

Caused by National Service Ordinance 18-20 yr old males had to register by May 1954

for National Service. Those who failed to do so would be either jailed

or fined.

ANTI-NATIONAL SERVICE RIOTS

Most of the secondary school students were 20 years old or above as their education had been disrupted by war.

Not willing to defend the colonial government which ignored the Chinese students’ interests.

THE RESPONSE OF THE LOCAL TO THE RENDEL CONSTITUTION

INTRODUCTION

The riots in the 1950s showed that the locals were unpleased with the British.

To appease the locals, the British decided to transfer some political power to locals.

Sir George Rendel proposed that certain powers of the government be given to local leaders elected by the people.

STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE RENDEL CONSTITUTION

British Government in London

Governor

Chief Minister + 6 elected ministers appointed from the 25 elected members of the Assembly)

25 elected non-officials

3 nominated ministers who are British officials

3 British officials nominated by the Governor + 4 non-officials nominated by the Governor

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

WHAT DID LOCAL MINISTERS MANAGE?

Housing Trade & Industry Health Education

WHAT DID BRITISH OFFICIALS MANAGE?

Internal Security External Defence Law Finance External Affairs

WHY DID THE BRITISH RETAIN CONTROL OF THE FIVE ASPECTS?

Although the British gave the local people more power in 1955, they were still not ready to give up all their powers.

1955 ELECTIONS

1955 ELECTIONS

• The Labour Front (LF) and People’s Action Party (PAP) were specially interested in contesting the 1955 Elections.

• Both targeted Chinese speaking people• Election campaigns focused on anti-

colonialism.

LABOUR FRONTLeader of LF, David

Marshall was a great public speaker.

Was anti-colonial. Promised to fight for Singapore’s independence.

Large majority of the Chinese-speaking people supported the LF.

PAP

Leader of PAP, Mr Lee Kuan Yew

Great public speaker Presents difficult ideas in a

simple manner. Called for all anti-colonial

forces to cooperate in this struggle

DETAILS

Political parties visited houses, distributed pamphlets, newspapers, organized rallies & gave speeches to win the people’s support.

160,000 people voted.

1955 ELECTIONS

Labour Front won 10 out of the 25 seats People's Action Party (PAP), won 3 seatsThe Progressive Party won 4 seats

1955 ELECTIONS

UMNO-MCA won 3 seatsThe Democratic Party won 2 seats Three Independents won 3 seats

respectively.

1955 ELECTIONS

David Marshall then became Singapore's first Chief Minister, with a coalition government made up of his own Labour Front, the Malayan Chinese Association and the United Malays National Organisation.

BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENTExecutive

Judiciary

Legislative

EXECUTIVE

Executive branch of government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. 

The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.

LEGISLATIVE

In parliamentary systems of government, the legislature is formally supreme and appoints a member from its house as the prime minister which acts as the executive. 

In a presidential system, according to the separation of powers doctrine, the legislature is considered an independent and coequal branch of government along with both the judiciary and the executive.

JUDICIARY

The Judiciary explains and applies the laws. This branch does this by hearing and eventually making decisions on various legal cases. 

REFERENCES

Secondary 2 History Textbook http://www.slideshare.net/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Hertogh_riots http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_549_2004-12-28.ht

ml http://www.singapore-elections.com/lega-1955-ge/ www.parliament.gov.sg www.wikipeadia.com

THANK YOU :D