Chap 5 Part 3 Peoples views towards Singapore AFTER the Japanese Occupation

Chap 5 Part 3 Peoples views towards Singapore AFTER the Japanese OccupationDid the Japanese Occupation change the way people viewed Singapore?The different ways in which people viewed Singapore

Singapore as homeBritish as rulers of SingaporeSingapore as an impregnable fortressWhat was the impact of the Japanese Occupation?Return of British colonial ruleThe USA dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 Aug respectively. The Japanese government surrendered shortly and the Japanese Occupation in Singapore thus came to an end. British colonial rule returned.

Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten making a public address on the Japanese surrender at the Municipal Building, Sep 1945Parade celebrating the return of the British, Sep 1945

Life during post-Japanese OccupationPeople in Singapore continued to face problems after the Japanese surrendered.

Insufficient food. The black market thrived and food continued to be sold at high prices.Insufficient housing. People had to live in overcrowded spaces and rental prices were high.Insufficient schools, teachers and textbooks to meet the high demands for education.Not enough jobs as trade had been disrupted and businesses need time to recover. The British colonial government did try to solve the problems that people faced, but it faced constraints such as a lack of funds and resources.Shortages in housing, food and essential items thus remained. Strikes, protests and riots also took place very frequently either because they were trying to improve their living conditions or because people were discontented with the British. One example was the riots was the Maria Hertogh custody case. Maria Hertogh custody case pages 49-50Read about the custody case and chart the events in chronological order in your WS.Growing Demands on the BritishFrom 1951, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce started to petition the British colonial government to consider granting citizenship to the China-born Chinese immigrants.

There were also demands for change from the local civil servants who worked for the British colonial government. They opposed the governments unequal treatment of the locals and demanded that the government raise their pay.

Growing Demands on the BritishThere began to be a demand for local political involvement as well. Political groups emerged after the Japanese Occupation, suggesting that there was increased political consciousness among the people in Singapore.

Growing Demands on the BritishThe fact that the British lost Singapore to the Japanese showed people that British rule could be challenged. The people in Singapore wanted a greater role in shaping Singapores political future and in how Singapore was governed after the Japanese Occupation. For example, the Malayan Democratic Union (MDU) was formed in Dec 1945 by local-born, English-educated Chinese, Indians and Eurasians. The members discussed extensively on how they wanted Singapore to be governed. Did the Japanese Occupation change the way people viewed Singapore?The different ways in which people viewed Singapore

Singapore as home Grp 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sources A and B)British as rulers of Singapore Grps 5, 6, 7, 8 (Sources C and D)Singapore as an impregnable fortress everyoneSingapore as impregnable fortressQuestion (Annex B)

1) Were people confident of the ability of the British to protect Singapore?Read Sources A and B and answer the questions in Annex B. Source A account by Chu Shuen Choo, a teacher who switched to selling curry rice to support her family during the Japanese Occupation

People expected something different from the British But it was nothing really better than what we had before we expected the same things we had pre-war, but with prices so high, we could only just survive. And we had to work hard to survive.Read Sources A and B and answer the questions in Annex B. Source B account by Lim Choo Sye, a teacher during the Japanese Occupation

I give the BMA credit for improving conditions as fast as possible. But they were handicapped because they had to turn from a war machine into a civil machine but they did help as far as possible.British as rulers of Singapore Questions

Did people respect the British after they returned to Singapore? What were their expectations of the British? Were their expectations met?Did they want to change the way British ruled Singapore?Read Source C and answer the questions in Annex BSource C account by a Teo Siak Kew, at a Chinese Chamber of meeting in Jan 1951

Large sums are invested in Singapore by many Chinese who, because they were born in China, are regarded as aliens with no voting privileges, and cannot get naturalisation papers. We have made our homes here, our children are born here, and our lifes interests are in this colony. We feel that the time is ripe now to urge the government to consider allowing us the privileges now only enjoyed by local-born Chinese.Read Source C and answer the questions in Annex BSource D account by Goh Sin Tub, a teenager whose education was disrupted during the Japanese Occupation

During the post-war period, I went into university and I told myself I am going to study very hard. I had a sense of seriousness because the Japanese Occupation had given me this attitude towards life. Life is very serious. I am a student. My duty is to study I am going to study hard and I am going to do well. So with that attitude, I cut myself off from other activities.Singapore as homeDid people want to stay in Singapore?Did they express greater interest in developments in Singapore?Did they want to be more involved in the way Singapore was governed?