history singapore written history singapore dates century later rose importance 14th century rule singapore important port invaded came portuguese rapidly major port city world war singapore conquered occupied war ended singapore reverted british control increasing levels self government granted culminating singapore merger form malaysia social unrest disputes singapore ruling malaysia resulted singapore separation malaysia singapore independent republic august facing severe unemployment housing crisis singapore embarked modernization programme beginning late 1960s 1970s focused establishing manufacturing industry developing large public housing estates investing heavily public education country world prosperous nations highly developed free market economy strong international trading links highest capita gross domestic product asia outside japan series raids launched 11th century weakened glorious empire identified place called general area earliest written record singapore occurs chinese account century describing island island end annals contains tale prince known sang landed island 13th century saw lion prince took sign founded settlement called means lion city sanskrit empire sent trade mission place called long men dragon tooth believed southern island chinese traveler visiting island described small settlement called chinese residents epic poem written referred settlement island called recent excavations found evidence indicating singapore important port 14th century singapore oldest location chinese community known exist outside china historical records archaeological evidence singapore caught struggle thailand java based control according singapore defeated attack king ruled island years forced founded singapore important trading port later early 15th century singapore thai vassal state founded quickly extended authority island portuguese seizure portuguese destroyed settlements singapore island sank obscurity centuries founding modern singapore 16th 19th centuries archipelago gradually taken european colonial powers beginning arrival portuguese early dominance portuguese challenged 17th century dutch came control ports region dutch established monopoly trade archipelago particularly region important product colonial powers including british limited relatively minor presence sir appointed lieutenant governor british colony determined great_britain replace netherlands dominant power archipelago trade route china british india important institution trade china passed archipelago dutch british trade region prohibiting british operating dutch controlled ports high hoped challenge dutch establishing new port main ship india china trade convinced lord hastings governor general india superior fund expedition seek new british base region arrived singapore january soon recognised island natural choice new port lay southern tip peninsula near possessed natural deep harbor fresh water supplies timber repairing ships found small settlement population thousand mouth headed island nominally ruled sultan controlled dutch weakened division officials loyal elder brother living exile help managed singapore offered recognize rightful sultan provide yearly payment return grant british right establish trading post singapore formal treaty signed february modern singapore born arrived people living singapore dozen chinese migration malaya parts asia singapore population reached chinese indian immigrants came singapore work rubber plantations tin mines descendants later formed bulk singapore population early growth returned soon signing treaty left major charge new settlement artillery small regiment indian soldiers establishing trading port scratch endeavor administration fairly funded prohibited collecting port duties raise revenue decided singapore free port invited settlers singapore stationed british official invite passing ships stop singapore news free port spread archipelago chinese arab traders island seeking dutch trade restrictions starting year operation spanish dollars worth trade passed singapore island population gone trade volume million population reached mark trade volume million singapore surpassed long established port returned singapore critical decisions despite success leading settlement difficult early years instance order generate needed revenue resorted selling licenses gambling sale saw social shocked disarray colony set drafting set new policies settlement organized singapore functional ethnic subdivisions plan singapore today remnants organization found ethnic neighborhoods stripped post later died perth scotland june signed second treaty sultan extended british possession island sultan traded administrative rights island including collection port taxes lifelong monthly payments respectively agreement brought island british law provision account customs traditions religion replaced efficient administrator new governor october departed britain return singapore died age singapore ceded sultan straits settlements status british outpost singapore initially doubt dutch government soon protested britain violating netherlands sphere influence singapore rapidly emerged important trading post britain consolidated claim island cemented status singapore british possession carving archipelago colonial powers area north singapore grouped form straits settlements administered straits settlements residency subdivision presidency british india subsequent decades singapore grew important port region success reasons including opening chinese market advent ocean going production rubber tin malaya status free port provided crucial advantage colonial port cities manila levied drew chinese indian arab traders operating singapore later opening suez_canal boost trade singapore million tons goods passing singapore year cargo transported main commercial activity trade flourished taxation little restriction merchant houses set singapore mainly european trading firms jewish chinese arab armenian american indian merchants chinese handled trade european asian merchants chinese largest ethnic group singapore consisted descendants early chinese settlers chinese singapore escape economic southern china numbers fleeing turmoil caused war second war arrived singapore impoverished laborers second largest ethnic group 1860s worked fishermen wage continued live indians second largest ethnic group consisted laborers traders sent carry public works projects clearing laying roads indian troops garrisoned singapore british despite singapore growing importance administration governing island welfare populace administrators usually posted india unfamiliar local culture languages population size civil service singapore remained unchanged people access public health services diseases cholera smallpox caused severe health problems especially working class areas result administration predominantly male nature population society chaotic police officers city nearly people prostitution gambling drug abuse particularly widespread chinese criminal secret societies analogous modern day extremely powerful tens thousands members turf wars rival societies occasionally led hundreds deaths attempts suppress limited success situation created deep concern european population island complained singapore small island population south eastern asia straits settlements crown colony singapore continued grow deficiencies straits settlements administration singapore merchant community began british indian rule british government agreed establish straits settlements separate april new colony ruled governor supervision london executive council legislative council assisted governor members councils elected representatives local population gradually included years colonial government embarked measures address social problems facing singapore chinese established address needs chinese community especially controlling worst abuses trade protecting chinese women forced prostitution governor sir banned secret societies driving underground social problems persisted post war era including acute housing shortage poor health living standards revolutionary chinese organisation dedicated overthrow dynasty led founded branch singapore served organisation headquarters southeast_asia members branch included originally rubber manufacturer originally rubber shoe manufacturer wing started revolution related meaning china revival inaugural issue august daily distribution copies newspaper ended presumably revolution working people opened revolution related meaning open wisdom singapore revolution raised purchase shipment singapore china military equipment support expenses people travelling singapore china revolutionary work immigrant chinese population singapore donated organised revolution led establishment world war deeply affect singapore conflict spread southeast_asia significant local military event war mutiny british muslim indian garrisoned singapore hearing rumors plans send fight ottoman_empire soldiers revolted killing officers british civilians troops arriving burma suppressed unrest war british government devoted significant resources building naval base singapore increasingly ambitious completed cost million naval base boasted largest dry dock world largest floating dock fuel tanks support entire british navy months defended heavy inch naval guns royal_air_force squadrons stationed winston_churchill touted unfortunately base fleet stationed europe plan sail quickly singapore needed world war broke fleet fully occupied defending britain lieutenant general sir appointed governor singapore general officer commanding malaya command november holding post based shortly outbreak world war responsible forming hypothesis fall singapore prevented fall singapore second world war japanese occupation december japan attacked pearl harbor east coast malaya causing pacific war begin earnest attacks occurred time international honolulu attack dated december attack dated december japan objectives capture southeast_asia secure rich supply natural resources feed military industry needs singapore main allied base region obvious military target trade wealth british military commanders singapore believed japanese attack come sea south dense jungle north serve natural barrier invasion drawn plan dealing attack northern malaya preparations completed military confident fortress singapore withstand japanese attack confidence reinforced arrival force squadron british warships dispatched defense singapore including battleship hms prince wales cruiser squadron accompanied capital ship aircraft carrier ran aground route leaving squadron air cover december japanese forces landed northern malaya days start invasion malaya prince wales sunk miles coast force japanese bombers torpedo bomber aircraft worst british naval defeat world war allied air support arrive time protect capital ships incident singapore malaya suffered daily air raids including targeting civilian structures hospitals casualties ranging tens hundreds time japanese army advanced swiftly southward crushing bypassing allied resistance allied forces tanks considered unsuitable tropical infantry proved powerless japanese light tanks resistance failed japanese advance allied forces forced retreat southwards singapore january mere days start invasion japanese conquered entire attack singapore causeway linking singapore blown allied forces effort stop japanese army japanese managed cross boats days fights allied forces volunteers singapore population advancing japanese took place period defenses shattered supplies exhausted lieutenant general surrendered allied forces singapore general chinese new year february indian australian british troops prisoners war later transported burma japan korea use slave labour prisoner transports known hell ships fall singapore largest surrender british led forces history japanese newspapers declared victory deciding general situation war singapore renamed light south island japanese occupied japanese japanese army imposed harsh measures local population troops especially japanese military police particularly ruthless dealing chinese population notable massacre chinese civilians undertaken retaliation support war effort china japanese screened citizens including children check anti japanese guilty citizens sent away truck executed mass executions claimed lives malaya singapore rest population suffered severe half years japanese occupation indians forced build death railway railway thailand burma died building railway caught prisoners war post war period japanese surrender allies august singapore fell brief state looting revenge killing widespread british troops led lord commander returned singapore receive formal surrender japanese forces region general behalf september formed govern island march infrastructure destroyed war including electricity water supply systems telephone services harbor facilities port singapore shortage food leading disease rampant crime violence high food prices unemployment workers discontent culminated series strikes causing massive public transport services late economy began recover facilitated growing demand tin rubber world years economy returned pre war levels failure britain defend singapore destroyed credibility ruler eyes decades war saw political awakening local populace rise anti colonial nationalist sentiments slogan independence language british prepared gradually increase self governance singapore malaya april straits settlements dissolved singapore separate civil administration headed governor july separate executive established election members scheduled following year elections held march limited seats elected british subjects rights vote eligible registered vote members council chosen governor chambers commerce elected seats won newly formed conservative party leaders businessmen professionals press immediate self rule seats won months elections armed communist groups malaya emergency broke british imposed tough measures control left wing groups singapore malaya introduced controversial allowed indefinite detention trial persons suspected threats security left wing groups strongest critics colonial system progress self government stalled years second election held number elected seats increased election dominated won seats contributed formation distinct local government singapore colonial administration dominant communists malaya suppressed worst emergency headed sir proposed limited form self government singapore new thirty seats chosen popular election replace chief minister head government cabinet picked parliamentary system british retain control areas internal security foreign affairs veto power legislation election held april lively closely fought affair new political parties joining unlike previous elections voters automatically registered expanding electorate defeated election winning seats newly formed left leaning labour biggest winner seats formed coalition government alliance won seats new party leftist won seats self government partial internal self government leader labour chief minister singapore presided government receiving little cooperation colonial government local parties social unrest rise bus riots broke killing people seriously marshall government chinese middle school riots broke students schools increasing tension local government chinese students regarded having communist sympathies april marshall led delegation london negotiate complete self rule talks talks failed british reluctant control singapore internal security british concerned communist influence labour strikes singapore economic stability felt local government ineffective handling earlier riots marshall resigned following failure talk new chief minister launched crackdown communist leftist groups trade union leaders pro communist members internal security act british government approved tough stance communist new round talks held beginning march agreed grant complete internal self government created citizenship expanded members entirely chosen popular election prime minister cabinet control aspects government defense foreign affairs governorship replaced yang head state august passed providing establishment internal self government elections new held won polls landslide victory winning seats accomplished chinese speaking majority particularly labour unions radical student organizations leader young cambridge educated lawyer prime minister singapore victory viewed dismay foreign local business leaders party members pro communists businesses promptly shifted headquarters singapore despite ill government embarked vigorous program address singapore economic social problems economic development overseen new minister finance strategy encourage foreign local investment measures ranging tax incentives establishment large industrial estate education system revamped train skilled workforce english language promoted chinese language language instruction eliminate labour unrest existing labour unions consolidated forcibly single umbrella organisation called strong oversight government social aggressive funded public housing program launched solve long standing housing problem high rise low cost apartments constructed years program campaign merger despite successes governing singapore leaders including lee believed singapore future lay malaya felt historic economic ties singapore malaya strong continue separate nations furthermore singapore lacked natural resources faced declining trade growing population required jobs thought merger benefit economy creating common market eliminating trade supporting new industries solve ongoing unemployment leadership campaigned vigorously merger sizable pro communist wing strongly opposed merger fearing loss influence ruling party malaya anti communist support non communist faction leaders skeptical idea merger distrust government concerns large chinese population singapore alter racial balance political power base depended issue came head pro communist minister defected party beat candidate subsequent election threatened bring lee government faced prospect takeover pro communists changed minds merger malaya prime minister idea comprising existing singapore british borneo territories leaders believed additional population borneo territories offset singapore chinese population british government believed merger prevent singapore haven communism july leaders singapore malaya signed malaysia agreement establish singapore malaysia merger september malaya singapore merged malaysia formed union rocky start singapore state elections local branch took election despite earlier agreement participate state politics malaysia formative years lost bids relations worsened challenged candidates federal election winning glorious seat compared handed malaysia government racial tension racial tensions increased chinese singapore federal policies action granted special privileges guaranteed article constitution malaysia financial economic benefits given political leaders began advocating fair equal treatment races malaysia rallying cry malaysian malaysia singapore increasingly federal government accusations external political situation tense indonesian president declared state malaysia initiated military actions new nation including bombing singapore march indonesian killing people indonesia conducted activities provoke chinese numerous racial riots resulted frequently imposed restore order notorious riots race riots took place birthday july people killed hundreds injured unrest price food transport system disrupted causing people state federal governments conflicts economic leaders feared economic dominance singapore inevitably shift political power away despite earlier agreement establish common market singapore continued face restrictions trading rest malaysia retaliation singapore refused provide extent loans previously agreed economic development eastern states branch singapore closed suspected funding communists situation escalated extent talks broke abusive speeches writings sides called arrest separation seeing alternative avoid malaysian prime minister decided expel singapore federation skeptical merger economic benefits singapore convinced separation place representatives worked terms separation extreme secrecy order present british government particular morning august parliament malaysia voted favor constitutional amendment singapore federation hours later passed independence act establishing island independent sovereign republic announced televised press conference singapore sovereign independent nation widely remembered quote stated moment life adult life believed merger unity territories new state appointed president present gaining independence abruptly singapore faced future filled going conservative faction strongly opposed separation singapore faced dangers attack indonesian military integration unfavorable terms international media skeptical prospects singapore survival issue sovereignty pressing problems unemployment housing education lack natural resources land unemployment ranging threatening trigger civil unrest singapore immediately sought international recognition sovereignty new state joined united_nations september member joined commonwealth october year foreign minister headed new foreign service helped assert singapore independence establishing diplomatic relations countries december constitution amendment act passed head state president singapore later founded august admitted set implement national economic strategies focusing promoting singapore manufacturing sector industrial estates set especially foreign investment attracted country tax incentives transformed manufacturing sector produced higher value added goods achieved greater revenue service industry grew time driven demand services ships calling port increasing commerce progress helped alleviate unemployment crisis singapore attracted big oil companies like shell establish oil singapore mid-1970s largest oil centre world government invested heavily education system adopted english language instruction emphasised practical training develop competent workforce suited industry lack good public housing poor high unemployment led social problems crime health issues settlements resulted safety hazards caused fire killed people left homeless set independence continued largely successful huge building projects sprung provide affordable public housing decade majority population housed apartments housing scheme introduced allows residents use compulsory savings account purchase flats gradually increases home ownership singapore british troops remained singapore following independence london announced decision withdraw forces secret aid military advisers israel singapore rapidly established help national service program introduced independence defense spending approximately percent today best equipped asia 1980s 1990s economic success continued 1980s unemployment rate falling real growth averaging 1980s singapore began upgrade higher technological industries sector order compete neighbours cheaper labour singapore airport opened developed major airline port singapore world busiest ports service tourism industries grew immensely period singapore emerged important transportation hub major tourist destination continued promote public housing new towns designed built new residential estates larger higher standard apartments served better amenities today population lives apartments mass rapid transit line began operation connecting housing estates city centre political situation singapore continues dominated won parliamentary seats election rule termed authoritarian activists opposition politicians strict regulation political media activities government infringement political rights conviction opposition politician illegal protests lawsuits cited opposition parties examples lack separation powers court system government led accusations opposition parties justice government singapore underwent significant changes non constituency members parliament introduced allow losing candidates opposition parties appointed mps group representation introduced create multi seat electoral divisions intended ensure minority representation parliament nominated members parliament introduced allow non elected non partisan mps constitution amended provide elected president veto power use national reserves appointments public office opposition parties complained system difficult gain parliamentary elections singapore voting system tends exclude minority parties passed leadership second prime minister singapore presented open style leadership country continued singapore experienced effect asian financial crisis tough measures cuts contribution implemented lee programs singapore profound effect communist leadership china major effort especially emulate policies economic growth subtle suppression dissent chinese officials sent singapore study methods present early 2000s early 2000s singapore went post independence crises including outbreak threat terrorism december plot bomb infrastructure singapore uncovered members group arrested internal security act major counter terrorism measures place detect prevent potential terrorist acts damages occur emphasis placed promoting social integration trust different communities eldest son prime minister singapore introduced policy changes including reduction national service duration half years years casino gambling efforts raise city global profile included hosting summer youth olympics general election landmark election prominent use internet cover comment election official media returned power winning parliamentary seats votes presidents died general election watershed election time lost ruling party opposition party years later founding father prime minister singapore died march singapore declared period national mourning march golden jubilee weekend featuring extra holiday fun packs usually given people attend national day parade given household founding prime minister tribute foreign dignitaries invited parade
History of Singapore