1945-1959

Lets Recap
What were some of the key political
developments in Singapore after 1945?

What did some people in Singapore aspire

to achieve for the country?

Group Investigation
In your groups, you are to gather relevant information
about the aspirations of the following groups (Page
70-82) and fill up the :
Group
Number
1
2
3

Groups of People to Focus on

Singapore Progressive Party, Labour
Front
Labour Front, Peoples Action Party

Singapore Progressive Party, Peoples

Action Party
Chinese middle school students

Trade unions

Singapore Progressive Party (SPP)

Multi-Racial Party made up of mainly Englisheducated professionals and businessmen.
Only Party to take part in 1948 and won 3 out of
6 seats.
Believed in working closely with the British
government and gradual change.

Would SPP be
popular among
the locals??

Singapore Progressive Party

Labour Front (LF)

Multi-Racial and formed in July 1954
Lead by David Marshall, Lim Yew Hock and
Francis Thomas
Comprised of mostly people with low income
and English-educated trade union leaders
Advocated to fight for immediate
independence
Sought to protect workers interests

David Marshall, leader of the Labour Front

Singapores first Chief Minister

Peoples Action Party

Multi-Racial and established on
21st November 1954
Founded by Lee Kuan Yew, Goh
Keng Swee, Toh Chin Chye, S.
Rajaratnam, and K.M. Bryne
Wanted immediate
independence
Called for all anti-colonial forces
to cooperate in this struggle
Aimed to win the support of the
workers, trade unions and
students in the Chinese schools

Test (17/4)
Chapter 6
15 marks
1 SEQ (3, 7 marks)
1 SBQ (Comparison)

Chinese Middle School

Students
Felt unfairly treated by the
British colonial government.
Questioned the willingness of
the British to look after their
interests.
Anti NS riots (1954) (Pg 7980)

Who was involved?

Chinese-educated students
When did it happen?
13 May 1954

Police catching secondary school

activists

Remembering May 13th

http://library.opal.moe.edu.sg/library/slot
/reslib/dc254/f90c91c00_253182.pdf
What did the riot demonstrate the
students feelings towards the British
colonial government?
Why did the students protest against the
British colonial government?

Trade Unions
Set up to protect the rights and
welfare of workers in Singapore
(Some were under the influence
of the Malayan Communist
Party)
Active in organizing anti-colonial
activities and were able to reach
out to the masses.
Felt the British sided with the
employers and did little to protect
workers interests.
Mutual suspicion and distrust
between the British and the trade
unions.

Days of Rage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH4g
BBB_rFA

What were the causes and impact of the

Hock Lee Bus Riots?
Discuss the video via whatsapp.

Singapores Political Journey

1955

Aspirations of the voters in 1955

What were your thoughts about elections if you

were to live in 1955? Why were more people
given the right to vote?

1955 Elections
Why did you think the
Labour Front won the
1955 election?
What do the election
results tell you about
what the voters aspired
to achieve for
Singapore?

Marshalls government
Although LF won the most number of seats, it did
not win 50% or more of the seats. Out of the 25
seats, LF only won 10 seats -> only 40% of the
seats
LF must group with another party before it can
govern Singapore. Chose to form a coalition
government with the Alliance Party
David Marshall became the Chief Minister.

Outcome of the 1955 Elections

It has showed that politics in Singapore had
changed. British rule was no longer welcomed.
The people had voted for political parties that were
strongly against British rule. The majority of the
people who were working-class Chinese had shown
that they were unhappy with British rule
Did not vote for political parties that were pro-British and
conservative

The British expected SPP to win and did not

expect the voters to vote for anti-colonial parties.

Food for thought

Without the peoples display of
displeasure, do you think the British would
have granted Singapore Limited Self
government?
Why/why not?

Merdeka Talks
What do you know about the term
Merdeka?
Why did the First Merdeka Talks in 1956
fail but the Second Merdeka Talks in 1957
succeed?

1956: Marshall led a group of men to London to

negotiate for Internal self-government
*Demanded Internal self-government for
Singapore by 1957 and a say in matters of
defence and external affairs.

He said that he would resign from his post if

the talks failed.

How did the talks go?

It failed!
The British felt that Marshalls government was
not capable enough to stop the Communist threat
and protect British interests, so they refused to
give Singapore internal self-government.
David Marshall was also unwilling to compromise with
the British about full internal self-government

On his return, David Marshall stepped down as

Chief Minister and Lim Yew Hock took over

 Cooperative towards the British

government:
did not believe in threatening the British to
offer more concessions

 Tough stance towards

Communist
Believed that cooperating with
the British to control the
Communist, to gain the
confidence of the British
government was the best way
to achieve full internal selfgovernment

 Successful!
Why was it successful?
British was confident in Lims government
and the way he dealt with Communist
threats. Lim was also willing to
compromise on the issue of internal
security as he was aware that the British
was still concerned about the Communists.

Singapores Political Journey

1959

Why was it important and

significant?
First fully democratic election
Introduction of compulsory voting
Singapore would be known as the
State of Singapore with a National
Flag
Has its own anthem (Majulah
Singapura)
A Head of State (the Yang DiPertuan Negara) would replace
the British Governor

Election day itself

1959 Elections
The 1959 election was an exciting
moment for Singapore
13 parties took part in the election
194 candidates contested for 51 seats
Each party tried to win the confidence and
votes of the people: How?
Large crowds went to the election rallies to
listen to the party leaders.

1959 Elections
Looking at the results
of the 1959 elections
(Pg 91), who won?
Why did the Labour
Front fail to win the
support of the people
in the 1959 election
while the PAP had
been able to do so?

Significance of 1959 Elections

This showed an increased interest by the
people on who should govern Singapore

*****Did the aspirations of the people

contribute to the change in the views of the
British?