AMKSS Chpt 2 (sec 1 hist)

A NG M O K IO S ECONDARY S CHOOL S ECONDARY 1 H ISTORY C HAPTER 2 – T HE F OUNDING OF S INGAPORE AS A B RITISH T RADING P OST Name: _____________________________ ( ) Class: _______ Date: __________ By the end of this chapter, you should know: □ Why did the British set up a trading post in Singapore □ How did the British overcome the challenges to establish a trading post in Singapore Reasons for British establishing a trading post in Singapore In order to understand why the British eventually chose to establish a trading post in Singapore, we can think about two sub-questions: a) Why did the British want to look for a new trading post in Southeast Asia ? What is the factor? [State] What is the factor about? [Describe/Examples] The British established a trading post in Singapore because of Dutch control of spice trade. • Since the 15 th century, European powers were heavily interested in spices such as pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg and competed for control over the spice trade in Southeast Asia. • The Dutch control of trade along the Straits of Melaka and the Sunda Straits by the 19 th century meant that the British were confined to trading in Bencoolen, which was unfavourable. • The British East India Company (EIC) wanted a share of the flourishing spice trade in Southeast Asia and looked for alternatives to break the Dutch control of spice trade.

The British established a trading post in Singapore because of the unsuitability of existing British ports. • After 1786, British had two trading ports – in Bencoolen and Penang – where British ships could stop for refuelling and repairs on their journeys between India and China. • Bencoolen was situated on the Western side of Sumatra and not along the main trading route between China and India. • Penang was too far north to allow the British to control the Straits of Melaka or protect the British ships from travelling through the Straits. Reasons for British establishing a trading post in Singapore (continued) b) Why did the British choose S ingapore ? The British had considered other locations like the Karimun Islands (in Indonesia) for their new trading post in Southeast Asia. However, the British eventually chose Singapore as the British found that Singapore possessed several advantageous/good qualities that made it an ideal port: What is the factor? [State] What is the factor about? [Describe/Examples] The British established a trading post in Singapore