What What AspirationsAspirations Did the People have Did the People have for Singapore for Singapore after 1945after 1945??

Inquiry QuestionInquiry Question

What aspirations did the people have for Singapore after 1945?

What the people What the people hoped to achieve hoped to achieve for Singaporefor Singapore

Immigrants and those who were born in Singapore who played who played important roles in influencing important roles in influencing Singapore’s journey towards Singapore’s journey towards independence.independence.

1945-19651945-1965

Learning OutcomesLearning Outcomes• At the end of At the end of this chapter this chapter you will learn about:you will learn about:

1.1. The political developments in Singapore after 1945The political developments in Singapore after 1945

2.2. Steps taken by the different political parties to gain Steps taken by the different political parties to gain support from the localssupport from the locals

3. Explain the different aspirations of the people of Singapore from (i) 1945 to 1959from (i) 1945 to 1959

(ii) 1959 to 1963(ii) 1959 to 1963 (iii) 1963 to 1965 (iii) 1963 to 1965

How was Singapore like during the How was Singapore like during the post-war period?post-war period?

Constitutional Changes from 1946 Constitutional Changes from 1946 to 1949to 1949

• The British introduced constitutional changes The British introduced constitutional changes to increase local involvement in the to increase local involvement in the government.government. Yay! I am a local

in Singapore and I now have an

opportunity to get involved!

Stop!!! Stop!!!

• Stop!!!Stop!!!• What’s What’s

constitutional?constitutional?

Relates to the Relates to the constitution, which is constitution, which is a set of laws used to a set of laws used to

govern a country.govern a country.

The Right to VoteThe Right to Vote

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udHKsVVkOtQ

• As a student, when have you ever voted?As a student, when have you ever voted?

• In current Singapore, which occasion in which do the In current Singapore, which occasion in which do the people vote? How do the parties gather support people vote? How do the parties gather support from the people?from the people?

British Response?British Response?

• In In 19481948 – limited elections – limited elections were introduced for the first were introduced for the first time.time.

• Eligible locals were allowed to Eligible locals were allowed to votevote for their representatives for their representatives in the Legislative Council (the in the Legislative Council (the body that made the laws for body that made the laws for Singapore). Singapore).

Elections held during 1948-1959Elections held during 1948-1959Page 61Page 61

• What are 2 What are 2 key key changes changes made over made over the years?the years?

Elections held during 1948-1959Elections held during 1948-1959

• Voting was made compulsory!Voting was made compulsory!• The number of eligible voters increased!The number of eligible voters increased!

Control Over GovernmentControl Over Government

• More control over government was given to More control over government was given to the local people.the local people.– No. of local members in the government No. of local members in the government

increased.increased.– No. of local ministers increased.No. of local ministers increased.– Areas of responsibility under local control Areas of responsibility under local control

increased. For example, by 1959, aspects such as increased. For example, by 1959, aspects such as education, health, and finance were controlled by education, health, and finance were controlled by elected local ministers. elected local ministers.

1948 1955 1959No of elected local members in the government

No of local ministers

Areas of responsibility under local control

Why did the British introduce the Why did the British introduce the changes?changes?

External Developments: Countries breaking away from colonial rule • Many countries were moving away from

colonial rule (decolonisation) and moving towards independence.

Examples of countries gaining independence: Examples of countries gaining independence: • India from the BritishIndia from the British• Indonesia from the DutchIndonesia from the Dutch• Vietnam from the FrenchVietnam from the French

Independence of India!Independence of India!

External Developments: Rise of Communism

What is a communist country like? •Classless society•All property is owned by the community. Goods produced would be allocated to people based on their needs.

China became a communist country in 1949.•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sej2FlPMZ3I

External Developments

• British was anti-communist and feared that its colonies such as Malaya and Singapore would turn communist in their struggle for independence

• The British were worried that the Chinese immigrants would be influenced by communist ideas from China.

Internal DevelopmentInternal Development

Before the Japanese Occupation After the Japanese Occupation

Politically ASLEEP: the people did not question who ruled over them or how

the government ruled over them

Politically AWAKENED: some people began to think about the future of

Singapore and how they can play a more active role in Singapore’s development.

Why do you think people lack such awareness?

Why do you think some people develop a sense of awareness?

Sources 1 & 2, page 56Sources 1 & 2, page 56

• What did Lee Kuan Yew and Soon Kim Seng hope to What did Lee Kuan Yew and Soon Kim Seng hope to achieve for Singapore?achieve for Singapore?

• Why do you think they felt this way?Why do you think they felt this way?

• Do you think other people shared the same views Do you think other people shared the same views about Singapore’s political future?about Singapore’s political future?

• Some locals start to form groups to push the Some locals start to form groups to push the British colonial government for political British colonial government for political changes.changes.

• The British colonial government recognised this The British colonial government recognised this development, as well as the influence of the development, as well as the influence of the external developments. They knew they had to external developments. They knew they had to give more political control to the local people give more political control to the local people and thus, made the constitutional changes. and thus, made the constitutional changes.

Singapore’s Political JourneySingapore’s Political Journey

3-2-1 Reflection Time!3-2-1 Reflection Time!

• Describe 3 things that you have learnt about the political developments in Singapore after 1945.

• Describe 2 things that you want to know more about regarding people’s aspirations for Singapore.

• List 1 question that you have or one thing that you are unsure regarding what you have learnt in this lesson.