Brief History of Singapore

Singapore is a trending metropolis with a melting pot of cultures, ranked one of the best healthcare in the world, and most expensive city to live in. Singapore is an island located off of southern Malaysia and is also one of three city-states in the world; along with Monaco and the Vatican City.

This small island with a strategic location, has the earliest written records describing it as a thriving port. However, geologist have found prehistoric tools which could mean that a settlement existed as early as several thousand years ago.

Crown Colony (1819-1941)

In 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles sailed to Singapore, and set up a British trading port by making a deal with Malay leaders. Raffles declared that the port would be “open to ships and vessels of every nation free of duty.” Raffles only spent about nine months in Singapore, but is credited with setting up a town plan, establishing laws and founding the Raffles Institution. In 1850, Singapore was the center of trade in South East Asia bringing in ships from Africa, Arabia and Europe. Ships brought in cloth, opium from India, silk, tea, ceramics from China and produce and spices.

In 1850, Singapore was the center of trade in South East Asia, bringing in ships from Africa, Arabia and Europe.

Through the late 1800s Singapore thrived. The free port boomed as well as the migrant population with people coming for work from Malay Archipelago, China and South Asia. Many worked in the port city, plantations and mines of Malaya producing rubber and tin. By 1919, Singapore was a modern city, with the second largest dry dock in the world, and boasting modern conveniences such as electricity, cars and telephone.

The Lion City still had its problems; a major one being opium consumption. Opium was legal and sold throughout the city, which had 550 licensed opium shops in 1900. People who worked hard jobs with much physical strain used opium to continue working. It led to addiction and the government recognized it as a problem in 1908. Opium was big business and historians say the British Empire would not have been there if it wasn’t for opium and 40 to 60 percent of the government’s locally derived revenue came from licensing opium merchants.

Opium was legal and sold throughout the city, which had 550 licensed opium shops in 1900.

Syonan-To (1942-1945)

During World War II, the Japanese bombed the city and also invaded the northeast coast of Malaya. After 70 days, the Japanese defeated the British, occupying the Malaya Peninsula and Singapore. The British surrendered on February 15, 1942 and Singapore was placed under military occupation, renaming it Syonan-To (Light of the South.)

Immediately after occupying Singapore, the Japanese Army began Sook Ching (the “great purge” in Chinese), targeting the Chinese community who were involved in anti-Japanese activities. The exact numbers of victims are unknown. The Japanese claimed that the operation executed 5000 to 6000 people while unofficial estimates range from 20,000 to 30,000 victims. While under occupation, Singapore suffered from low food supplies, fuel shortages, disease and violence. The occupation ended only when Japan surrendered to the Allies in 1945.

Singapore (1945- to present)

After World War Two, the British Empire’s mighty image was destroyed, and the idea of decolonization dominated over Asia and Africa. Nationalistic ideals formed, and different political parties came into the spot light, outshining the British. In 1959, Singapore was granted self-government and the first general election was held. By 1965, after merger and then separation from Malaysia, Singapore became an independent nation.

In the following decades, Singapore took strives to introduce industrialism, foreign investment and tourism; and improve public housing, education and the environment. By the 1980s, Singapore was a booming modern metropolis.