Sec 1 History: Chapter 3 - Structured Questions
Sec 1 History : Structured Questions
Part (a)
State three problems that made it difficult for the British to maintain law and order in Singapore in the 1800s. [3m]
Show model answer — Part (a)
The police force was very small, with fewer than 15 staff in the 1820s, and could not cope with the rising number of robberies and murders as the population grew rapidly.
Secret societies caused serious trouble such as gang thefts and fights In 1854, the Hokkien-Teochew Riots broke out and lasted 10 days, and soldiers had to help the police restore order.
Pirates attacked trading ships in Singapore's waters, especially during the "Pirate Winds" season from August to October, when pirate ships came from North Borneo.
Part (b)
Describe how the British improved law and order in Singapore. [7m]
Show model answer — Part (b)
Point: One way the British improved law and order was by strengthening the police force.
Elaboration: In 1843, Thomas Dunman was appointed to lead the police, and by 1857 he became Singapore's first full-time Commissioner of Police. He improved working conditions and increased wages, which attracted recruits of good character. A police school and a detective branch were set up in the 1880s, and the force grew to 2,000 officers by the 1930s, making Singapore a safer and more peaceful place.
Point: Another way the British improved law and order was by setting up the Chinese Protectorate to deal with secret societies and the abuse of migrants.
Elaboration: In 1877, William Pickering became the first Protector of the Chinese. He made all secret societies register with the Protectorate so that the British could monitor their members, and coolie-agents also had to register so that officials could check on the treatment of coolies. In 1890, the Dangerous Societies Ordinance gave the governor the power to banish dangerous migrants and ban secret societies, leading to more peace, law and order.
For more resources check out The Urban Academy
Daily Practice Question from The Urban Historian — Singapore History & Social Studies tuition for Sec 1–4.
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