The Founding Of Singapore
How the British founded Singapore
In the year 1819,on 28th of January,the British reached Singapore,and discussed about settiing up atrade post in Singapore with a Temenggong.Unfortunately,the Temenggong did not have the power to do so,but tol the British about Sultan Abdul Rahmanwho ruled Singapore.
The British then found out that,due to Abul Rahman's borther's unavailability,he became the sultan.The British then talked to Hussein,the older of the brothers,and recognised him as rightful heir to his father.
They then signe a treaty with Hussein and the Temenggong on 6th Feburary 1819,to allow them to build a settlement on the southern part of Singapore
In August 1824,Dr. John Crawfurd signed a treaty with the Sultan and Temenggong for control of the entire island in return for more money to be paid to them.
Why the British needed Singapore
TheBencoolen and Penang,both ineffective in protecting the Britsh trade ships and the Straits
The British were also subject to Dutch trading laws,which meant paying a huge sum of tax money to buy or sell goods in the Dutch trading ports
Dutch monopolisation over Southeast Asia trade routes
The Dutch had more or less monopolised the trade routes as they had the more strtegically placed trading ports and also strict laws that gave the British very little leeway when the were trading.
The Dutch also required all traders to only trade at Java,and to have Asian traders to carry a Dutch permit and to fly a Dutch flag
Unlike the British, the Dutch had Melaka,Java, and other strategically placed trading ports.
Arguments on the real founder of Singapore
Sir Stamford Raffles signed a treaty with the Sultan that they would get a settlement on Singapore,which is why he is more popularly known as "the founder of Singapore".
After Raffles had left however,William Farquhar had turned Singapore into a busy town full of new settlements.If Farquhar had not helped Raffles,modern Singapore might not have been wht it would be today.
However,some people think that Dr. John Crawfurd was the true founder of Singapore,as he was the one that signed the treaty which gave the British control of the entire island.
Problems in early Singapore
Raffles,partner,William Farquhar had the difficult task of getting the new settlement started.
Firstly,Singapore was almost covered in jungle,so he got men to clear some of the jungle,and build attap huts for the villagers to live in.
Singapore also had no defense against any invaders.So Farquhar got people to build gun positions and monuted gubs facing the sea.
The new settlement was also not well-known,so Farquhar told people about it so that they could come and trade at Singapore
There was also a shortage of food,thus Farquhar got people from Melaka to trade with Singapore
THere were also a lot of disorder on the island,due to the massive crime rates on Singapore.Farquhar then put up a small police force to keep order and peace
Lastly,there were many insects and pests on the island,therefore,Farquhar offered monet for every pest killed.
