Singapore as a British Port

1. Singapore as a British Port Reasons Raffles and the Malay Rulers at the Treaty of 1819

2. Reasons for Choosing Singapore as a port • British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly • Singapore’s Geographical Location • Singapore’s Natural Harbour

3. East India House, London, painted by Thomas Malton in 1800

4. 1. British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly Opium Factory in Calcutta (India) East India Company (EIC) sold opium, which was produced in India, to the Chinese.In return, they bought tea from the Chinese and sold it in Europe. Why?

5. Context: The demand by Europeans for Eastern goods  SpicesandTea from China was enjoyed by Europeans • Result: Britain’s trade with China had become very lucrative

6. To China To China Due to lucrative trade, the British and Dutch were competing for control of the trade routes and resources in Asia Who had more control of the trade routes and resources?

7. 1. British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly Background information • Both British and Dutch were allies. • Reason: Britain’s position as one of the world’s leading powers was coming under threat from the growing strength of Austria, Prussia and Russia.

8. 1. British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly Dutch’s attempt to have trade monopoly • The Dutch navy could prevent British ships from passing through the area from its ports at Batavia and Melaka. • The Dutch forced all British ships to trade at the Dutch port of Batavia. • All Asian trading boats only could trade at Dutch ports. It is clear that the objective of the Dutch is to control all the trade. By controlling the only passes to the Archipelago, namely the Straits of Meleka and the Sunda Straits , they have the power to disrupt our China trade.From a letter written by Stamford Raffles

9. 1. British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly Result • How would Britain feel about Dutch trade monopoly? • Britain was concerned about losing its trade in Asia • What action should be taken then? • They need to find a new base to break Dutch trade monopoly The British have now not an inch of ground to stand upon between India and China, nor a friendly port at which they obtain water and obtain refreshment. Adapted from a letter written by Raffles in 1818 in A History of Singapore, 1819 – 1988 by Constance Mary Turnbull

10. Imagine that you are Raffles. What would be your criteria for selecting a new base? Why? • 1) Port near to the routes through which ships must sail into the Malay Archipelago (Straits of Sunda and Melaka) • 2) Port near to the centre of trade in the Archipelago

11. Solution: Selection of a New Base • Existing ports (Penang and Bencoolen) were not suitable as they are not near the routes or centre of trade in the Archipelago. • 1st Choice:Semangka Bay, Padang or Palembang • 2nd Choice: Rhio, Siak, Pontianak and Lingga • 3rd Choice: Carmion Islands • Final Decision: Singapore

12. Reasons for Choosing Singapore as a port • British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly • Singapore’s Geographical Location • Singapore’s Natural Harbour

13. Solution: Selection of a New Base Why would Singapore’s location along the Straits of Melaka make it an ideal place for Britain to set up a trading settlement? You have only to glance at the map to discover it occupies a central position in the Straits of Melaka. Singapore is located at the southern entrance of the Straits of Melaka, giving us a commanding position to protect our ships as they sail from India to China. A letter by Raffles

14. 2. Singapore’s Geographical Location Geographical Location • Singapore was centrally located along the main India-China trade route used by British ships and so ships going between East-West could stop by conveniently to trade, to rest and to replenish food and water • The British could control the southern entrance to the Straits of Melaka from Singapore • British warships could be sent out from Singapore to protect trading ships traveling in South East Asia

15. 2. Singapore’s Geographical Location • Singapore is near to the main trading area in the Archipelago. Why would it be an ideal place for Britain to set up a trading settlement? It is impossible to conceive a place combining more advantages. It is within a week’s sail of China, still closer to Siam (Thailand), Cochin-China and in the very heart of the Malay Archipelago, or as the Malays called it, the Navel of the Malay countries. Adapted from a letter written by Raffles in June 1819

16. Reasons for Choosing Singapore as a port • British’s Need to break Dutch Monopoly • Singapore’s Geographical Location • Singapore’s Natural Harbour

17. 3. Singapore’s Natural Harbour It has also been our good fortune to discover one of the safest harbors in the area , with every facility for protecting shipping in time of war. Singapore is everything we could desire. It will soon rise in importance and break the Dutch monopoly of trade in the archipelago. A letter written by Raffles • Safe harbour for protecting ships from stormy winds as well. Why would safe harbourmake it an ideal place for Britain to set up a trading settlement? • The harbour can also provide facilities for ships to dock, refit and replenish • Plentiful supply of water to replenish water for ships

18. Raffles and his party set foot on the island of Singapore at 4pm on 28 January 1819

19. Place where Raffles first landed Singapore River Chinese gambier plantation Bukit Larangan (Fort Canning) Malay village Mangrove swamp

20. CONCLUSION Effects Cause Britain decided to search for a new trading settlement Singa-pore was chosen Britainfearedthat the Dutch might stop it from continuing its India-China trade Dutch trade monopoly and control of seas