Revision for Mid-Year Revision for Mid-Year Examinations 2009 Examinations 2009

Q1. Q1. What were the post-war What were the post-war problems and how did the British try problems and how did the British try

to solve them?to solve them?

► You need to FocusYou need to Focus

1)1) on the seven social and economic on the seven social and economic problems in the post-war years.problems in the post-war years.

2)2) Discuss the steps taken by the British Discuss the steps taken by the British to solve the problems.to solve the problems.

Rice-producing countries did not have Rice-producing countries did not have enough rice to sell.enough rice to sell.

There were also not enough ships to There were also not enough ships to transport food totransport food to

Singapore as a large number of ships Singapore as a large number of ships were destroyed in the warwere destroyed in the war

This shortage of food led to This shortage of food led to profiteering and a rise in food prices.profiteering and a rise in food prices.

1 ) Shortage of food (Economic)1 ) Shortage of food (Economic)

1 ) Shortage of food (Economic)1 ) Shortage of food (Economic)

The British imposed controls on the The British imposed controls on the prices of essential foodstuffs and prices of essential foodstuffs and introduced food rationing.introduced food rationing.

They opened People's Restaurants to They opened People's Restaurants to provide meals at affordable prices and provide meals at affordable prices and Family Restaurants for very poor Family Restaurants for very poor families.families.

► Children under six years of age were Children under six years of age were given at least one free meal a day at given at least one free meal a day at feeding centres.feeding centres.

2) Change of currency 2) Change of currency (Economic)(Economic)

With the return of the British, the legal With the return of the British, the legal tender was changed back to the Straits tender was changed back to the Straits dollar This meant that the Japanese dollar This meant that the Japanese currency was no longer of any value.currency was no longer of any value.

Many people were affected by this Many people were affected by this change as they held a lot of Japanese change as they held a lot of Japanese notes. notes.

To help these people, the British issued To help these people, the British issued relief grants in the form of money to relief grants in the form of money to those in need.those in need.

3. Unemployment (Economic)3. Unemployment (Economic)

Many people lost the jobs that were Many people lost the jobs that were created by the Japanese during the created by the Japanese during the wart Earning a living was difficult as wart Earning a living was difficult as salaries were low.salaries were low.

The BMA referred the unemployed to The BMA referred the unemployed to the Labour Exchange to help them find the Labour Exchange to help them find suitable jobs.suitable jobs.

The British also reopened some The British also reopened some factories and this helped to provide factories and this helped to provide jobs for the unemployed.jobs for the unemployed.

4. Shortage of water and 4. Shortage of water and disruption of facilities (Social)disruption of facilities (Social)

Many water pipes were faulty and Many water pipes were faulty and needed repairs.needed repairs.

Gas and electricity supplies, as well as Gas and electricity supplies, as well as telephone services were disrupted, telephone services were disrupted, and had to be reinstated.and had to be reinstated.

The British used the Japanese POWs to The British used the Japanese POWs to repair the water mains and the repair the water mains and the machinery in the power stations.machinery in the power stations.

5. Housing shortage (Social)5. Housing shortage (Social)

Many houses were destroyed during the warMany houses were destroyed during the war The shortage of houses led to an increase in The shortage of houses led to an increase in

rent.rent. Many poor people lived in squatters and Many poor people lived in squatters and

under unhealthy conditions.under unhealthy conditions. The British passed a law to control rent in pre-The British passed a law to control rent in pre-

warwar houses.houses. They also built flats but this did not solve the They also built flats but this did not solve the

problem.problem.

6. Poor health conditions 6. Poor health conditions (Social)(Social)

The death rate was twice that of pre-war The death rate was twice that of pre-war days. This was because hospitals were days. This was because hospitals were short of medical supplies and short of medical supplies and equipment. ,equipment. ,

The people also suffered from The people also suffered from malnutrition and diseases.malnutrition and diseases.

The British provided vaccinations and The British provided vaccinations and free medical services.free medical services.

A group of businessmen and doctors A group of businessmen and doctors started SATA to fight against tuberculosis.started SATA to fight against tuberculosis.

7. Inadequate education 7. Inadequate education facilities (Social)facilities (Social)

Places in school were needed for children as Places in school were needed for children as well as for the over aged students whose well as for the over aged students whose education was disrupted by the wan education was disrupted by the wan However, there were not enough schools to However, there were not enough schools to meet the demand.meet the demand.

Schools were without proper facilities.Schools were without proper facilities. The BMA helped out by providing teaching The BMA helped out by providing teaching

materials and other essentials.materials and other essentials. Needy students of poor families also need Needy students of poor families also need

not pay school fees.not pay school fees.

Q2. Why did the British control Q2. Why did the British control prices for essential foodstuffs prices for essential foodstuffs like sugar andlike sugar andsalt? (3 marks)salt? (3 marks)

When answering any question, When answering any question, remember the following guidelines:remember the following guidelines:

Read the question carefully.Read the question carefully. Note the number of marks allocated to Note the number of marks allocated to

each question.each question. Analyse the question. Plan your answer.Analyse the question. Plan your answer.

The instruction word ‘why’ tells you that you have The instruction word ‘why’ tells you that you have to give a reason for the control of prices of to give a reason for the control of prices of foodstuffs.foodstuffs.

The key words are ‘control prices’ and ‘essential The key words are ‘control prices’ and ‘essential foodstuffs’.foodstuffs’.

Note that the question carries 3 marks. You have Note that the question carries 3 marks. You have to give the reason and explain its implications. to give the reason and explain its implications.

It was to prevent people from profiteering and It was to prevent people from profiteering and selling these goods at high prices. — 2m are selling these goods at high prices. — 2m are awarded as the answer only offers the reasonawarded as the answer only offers the reason

It was to prevent people from profiteering and It was to prevent people from profiteering and selling these goods at high prices in The black selling these goods at high prices in The black market, which The people could not afford.— 3m market, which The people could not afford.— 3m are awarded for explaining the reason and are awarded for explaining the reason and showing its implicationshowing its implication

Q3. What were three economic Q3. What were three economic problems in the post-war years? problems in the post-war years? Explain the steps taken by theExplain the steps taken by theBritish to solve them. (7 marks)British to solve them. (7 marks)

The instruction word ‘what’ tells you that you The instruction word ‘what’ tells you that you have to list the economic problem which, in this have to list the economic problem which, in this case, consists of three problems. The word case, consists of three problems. The word ‘explain’ tells you that you have to elaborate on ‘explain’ tells you that you have to elaborate on the steps taken by the British.the steps taken by the British.

The key words are ‘three economic problems’ and The key words are ‘three economic problems’ and ‘steps taken to solve them’. The time frame is the ‘steps taken to solve them’. The time frame is the period after the war. The topic is about the period after the war. The topic is about the problems of the post-war years. Note that the problems of the post-war years. Note that the question carries 7 marks. Hence your answer question carries 7 marks. Hence your answer must list the problems and elaborate on them.must list the problems and elaborate on them.

The Three economic problems were The Three economic problems were shortage of food, change in currency shortage of food, change in currency and unemployment. — 1m is and unemployment. — 1m is awarded as the answer only lists the awarded as the answer only lists the problemsproblems

The three economic problems were shortage of The three economic problems were shortage of food, change in currency and unemployment. food, change in currency and unemployment. There was a shortage of food because rice-There was a shortage of food because rice-producing countries did not have enough rice to producing countries did not have enough rice to sell. Furthermore, there were not enough ships to sell. Furthermore, there were not enough ships to transport whatever food there was as many of the transport whatever food there was as many of the ships had been destroyed in the war. People also ships had been destroyed in the war. People also found that the Japanese currency they held were found that the Japanese currency they held were useless when the Straits dollar became legal useless when the Straits dollar became legal tender. Many people, too, lost the jobs that were tender. Many people, too, lost the jobs that were created by the Japanese during the war.— created by the Japanese during the war.— 4m 4m are awarded as the answer only lists and are awarded as the answer only lists and explains the problems. It does not focus on explains the problems. It does not focus on the steps taken by the British to solve the the steps taken by the British to solve the problems.problems.

The Three economic problems were shortage of food, The Three economic problems were shortage of food, change in currency and unemployment. There was a change in currency and unemployment. There was a shortage of food because rice—producing countries did not shortage of food because rice—producing countries did not have enough rice To sell. FurTherm0re, There were not have enough rice To sell. FurTherm0re, There were not enough ships To Transport whatever food There was as enough ships To Transport whatever food There was as many of The ships had been destroyed. To help The people, many of The ships had been destroyed. To help The people, The British set up People's Restaurants That provided meals The British set up People's Restaurants That provided meals at affordable prices. The Japanese currency had become at affordable prices. The Japanese currency had become useless when The legal Tender was changed back To The useless when The legal Tender was changed back To The Straits dollar. To help The people, The British issued relief Straits dollar. To help The people, The British issued relief grants in The form of money To Those in need. Many people grants in The form of money To Those in need. Many people also lost The jobs That were created by The Japanese during also lost The jobs That were created by The Japanese during The war. The British set up a Labour Exchange To help find The war. The British set up a Labour Exchange To help find suitable jobs for The unemployed. suitable jobs for The unemployed. — 7m are awarded as — 7m are awarded as the answer explains the problems and the steps the answer explains the problems and the steps taken to solve themtaken to solve them

Q4. How did the communists plan toQ4. How did the communists plan toachieve their objective of driving the achieve their objective of driving the British out of Singapore and Malaya British out of Singapore and Malaya after the war?after the war?

You need to :You need to :1)1) Know that the communists wanted Know that the communists wanted

to set up a communist government to set up a communist government in Singapore. in Singapore.

2)2) Explain the communists’ strategy of Explain the communists’ strategy of using the people to go against the using the people to go against the British.British.

The Communist objectiveThe Communist objective

- The communists wanted to end colonial - The communists wanted to end colonial rule in Singapore and set up a rule in Singapore and set up a communist government controlled by communist government controlled by China.China.

The Communist strategyThe Communist strategy

- They stirred up anti-British feelings in - They stirred up anti-British feelings in the people. They promised the people a the people. They promised the people a better life and freedom from the British.better life and freedom from the British.

Q5. What were the activities of the Q5. What were the activities of the communists in the l940s and were communists in the l940s and were they successful in achieving their they successful in achieving their objective?objective?

You need to:You need to: Highlight the tactics used by the Highlight the tactics used by the

communists to create unrest.communists to create unrest. Evaluate the reason for the failure of the Evaluate the reason for the failure of the

communists in achieving their objective.communists in achieving their objective.

Communist activities in the |940sCommunist activities in the |940s

The communists made use of the trade unions, The communists made use of the trade unions, newspapers and the Chinese-educated students newspapers and the Chinese-educated students to influence the people to their cause.to influence the people to their cause.

Many workers were ready to listen to the Many workers were ready to listen to the communists because of their poor pay and communists because of their poor pay and working conditions.working conditions.

The communists also instigated the workers to The communists also instigated the workers to go on strike to create disorder:go on strike to create disorder:

Failure of the communistsFailure of the communists

The communists were not successful. Many The communists were not successful. Many workers lost interest in the communist cause workers lost interest in the communist cause when the strikes they participated in affected when the strikes they participated in affected their pay.their pay.The workers also realized that the communists The workers also realized that the communists were more interested in creating disorder than in were more interested in creating disorder than in fighting for their rights.fighting for their rights. in I947, the British passed a law that required all in I947, the British passed a law that required all trade unions to register with the government. trade unions to register with the government. The aim was to monitor and control the activities The aim was to monitor and control the activities of the communists in the unions.of the communists in the unions.

Q6. Who was Maria Hertogh and why did racial riots break out because of her?

You need to:Understand the background of Maria Hertogh. Examine the reasons that led to the riots, in particular the lack of religious sensitivity of the British.· Evaluate the consequences of the riots.

The Maria Hertogh Riots• The riots were caused by a dispute over custody of

a Eurasian girl called Maria Hertogh between her natural parents and her foster Muslim parents.

• The British court ruled that Maria should be returned to her natural parents. lt also did not recognize Maria’s marriage under Muslim law.

• In addition Maria was put in a convent, an act whichangered the Muslim community who regarded her as

a Muslim.• Riots broke out when the court denied custody to

the Muslim parents. • l8 people died, l73 were injured, and property and vehicles were destroyed in the riots.

Q7. What lessons can be drawn Q7. What lessons can be drawn from the riots and unrest in from the riots and unrest in Singapore of the l940s and 50s?Singapore of the l940s and 50s?

You need to:You need to: Explain the political and racial Explain the political and racial

vulnerabilities of Singapore.vulnerabilities of Singapore. Examine the effects of the riots and strikes Examine the effects of the riots and strikes

on Singapore. on Singapore.

Lessons Lessons

Singapore is vulnerable to external Singapore is vulnerable to external influences such as the communist threat.influences such as the communist threat.

Racial sensitivity is very important in a Racial sensitivity is very important in a multi-racial societymulti-racial society

Effects of the riotsEffects of the riots

·The strikes and riots disrupted ·The strikes and riots disrupted businesses and affected the economic businesses and affected the economic growth of Singapore.growth of Singapore.

lt also affected the people’s way of life.lt also affected the people’s way of life.