1945-1959

Let’s Recap

• What were some of the key political developments in Singapore after 1945?

• What did some people in Singapore aspire to achieve for the country?

Group Investigation

• In your groups, you are to gather relevant information about the aspirations of the following groups (Page 70-82) and fill up the :

Group Number

Groups of People to Focus on

1 Singapore Progressive Party, Labour Front

2 Labour Front, People’s Action Party

3 Singapore Progressive Party, People’s Action Party

4 Chinese middle school students

5 Trade unions

Singapore Progressive Party (SPP) • Multi-Racial Party made up of mainly English-

educated professionals and businessmen.• Only Party to take part in 1948 and won 3 out of

6 seats.• Believed in working closely with the British

government and gradual change.

Would SPP be popular among the locals??

Singapore Progressive Party

Labour Front (LF)• Multi-Racial and formed in July 1954• Lead by David Marshall, Lim Yew Hock and

Francis Thomas• Comprised of mostly people with low income

and English-educated trade union leaders• Advocated to fight for immediate

independence • Sought to protect workers’ interests

David Marshall, leader of the Labour Front

Singapore’s first Chief Minister

People’s Action Party

• Multi-Racial and established on 21st November 1954

• Founded by Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee, Toh Chin Chye, S. Rajaratnam, and K.M. Bryne

• Wanted immediate independence

• Called for all anti-colonial forces to cooperate in this struggle

• Aimed to win the support of the workers, trade unions and students in the Chinese schools

Test (17/4)

• Chapter 6

• 15 marks

• 1 SEQ (3, 7 marks)

• 1 SBQ (Comparison)

Chinese Middle School Students

• Felt unfairly treated by the British colonial government.

• Questioned the willingness of the British to look after their interests.

• Anti NS riots (1954) (Pg 79-80)

Who was involved?

• Chinese-educated students

When did it happen?

• 13 May 1954

Police catching secondary school activists

Remembering May 13th

• http://library.opal.moe.edu.sg/library/slot/reslib/dc254/f90c91c00_253182.pdf

• What did the riot demonstrate the students’ feelings towards the British colonial government?

• Why did the students protest against the British colonial government?

Trade Unions

• Set up to protect the rights and welfare of workers in Singapore (Some were under the influence of the Malayan Communist Party)

• Active in organizing anti-colonial activities and were able to reach out to the masses.

• Felt the British sided with the employers and did little to protect workers’ interests.

• Mutual suspicion and distrust between the British and the trade unions.

Days of Rage

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH4gBBB_rFA

• What were the causes and impact of the Hock Lee Bus Riots?

• Discuss the video via whatsapp.

Singapore’s Political Journey

1955

Aspirations of the voters in 1955

• What were your thoughts about elections if you were to live in 1955? Why were more people given the right to vote?

1955 Elections

• Why did you think the Labour Front won the 1955 election?

• What do the election results tell you about what the voters aspired to achieve for Singapore?

Marshall’s government

• Although LF won the most number of seats, it did not win 50% or more of the seats. Out of the 25 seats, LF only won 10 seats -> only 40% of the seats

• LF must group with another party before it can govern Singapore. Chose to form a coalition government with the Alliance Party

• David Marshall became the Chief Minister.

Outcome of the 1955 Elections

• It has showed that politics in Singapore had changed. British rule was no longer welcomed.– The people had voted for political parties that were

strongly against British rule. The majority of the people who were working-class Chinese had shown that they were unhappy with British rule

• Did not vote for political parties that were pro-British and conservative

• The British expected SPP to win and did not expect the voters to vote for anti-colonial parties.

Food for thought

• Without the people’s display of displeasure, do you think the British would have granted Singapore Limited Self government?

• Why/why not?

Merdeka Talks

• What do you know about the term ‘Merdeka’?

• Why did the First Merdeka Talks in 1956 fail but the Second Merdeka Talks in 1957 succeed?

1956: Marshall led a group of men to London to negotiate for Internal self-government

*Demanded Internal self-government for Singapore by 1957 and a say in matters of defence and external affairs.

•He said that he would resign from his post if the talks failed.

How did the talks go?• It failed!

– The British felt that Marshall’s government was not capable enough to stop the Communist threat and protect British interests, so they refused to give Singapore internal self-government.

– David Marshall was also unwilling to compromise with the British about full internal self-government

• On his return, David Marshall stepped down as Chief Minister and Lim Yew Hock took over…

• Cooperative towards the British government:– did not believe in threatening the British to

offer more concessions

• Tough stance towards Communist– Believed that cooperating with

the British to control the Communist, to gain the confidence of the British government was the best way to achieve full internal self-government

• Successful!

Why was it successful?

• British was confident in Lim’s government and the way he dealt with Communist threats. Lim was also willing to compromise on the issue of internal security as he was aware that the British was still concerned about the Communists.

Singapore’s Political Journey

1959

Why was it important and significant?

• First fully democratic election• Introduction of compulsory voting• Singapore would be known as the

State of Singapore with a National Flag

• Has its own anthem (Majulah Singapura)

• A Head of State (the Yang Di-Pertuan Negara) would replace the British Governor

Election day itself…

1959 Elections

• The 1959 election was an exciting moment for Singapore

• 13 parties took part in the election

• 194 candidates contested for 51 seats

• Each party tried to win the confidence and votes of the people: How?

• Large crowds went to the election rallies to listen to the party leaders.

1959 Elections

• Looking at the results of the 1959 elections (Pg 91), who won?

• Why did the Labour Front fail to win the support of the people in the 1959 election while the PAP had been able to do so?

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20100130/a32-1.jpg

Significance of 1959 Elections

This showed an increased interest by the people on who should govern Singapore

*****Did the aspirations of the people contribute to the change in the views of the

British?