Difference between revisions of "Singapore"

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[[Image:Singaporeflag.gif|thumb|100px|Singapore flag]]
 
[[Image:Singaporeflag.gif|thumb|100px|Singapore flag]]
'''Singapore''' (Malay: ''Singa'' (lion) + ''pura'' (city)) is a city-state and republic, situated on a group of islands at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula. Its population of about 4 million people is 76% ethnic Chinese, 14% Malay, 7% Tamil and 3% others.
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'''Singapore''' (Malay: ''Singa'' (lion) + ''pura'' (city)) is a city-state and republic, situated on a group of islands at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula.  
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[[File:Singapur.jpg|left|200px]]
 
[[File:Singapur.jpg|left|200px]]
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{{Clear}}
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== People ==
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[[File:Singapore people girls.jpg|thumb|Girls, 2010.]]
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Its population of about 4 million people is 76% ethnic Chinese, 14% Malay, 7% Tamil and 3% others.
 
{{Clear}}
 
{{Clear}}
 
==History==
 
==History==
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Singapore was an ignored, swampy island with only a few fishing villages until 1819 when [[Sir Stamford Raffles]] of the British [[East India Company]] was given permission to establish a trading station by the Sultan of Johor.  Raffles had spotted its strategic location as a crossroads on the shipping routes to the East and set about turning the island into a free trading station.<ref>[http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/about_singapore/brief_history.html] Uniquely Singapore - Brief History</ref> Alongside the British colonial presence it attracted many entrepreneurs from China, India and the Middle East and within 5 years the population rose from 150 to 10,000. In 1824 the British bought the island outright from the Sultan. Following the Anglo-Dutch treaty of 1824, the [[Dutch]], who had largely been the dominant colonial power in south-east Asia, withdrew any objections to the British occupation.
 
Singapore was an ignored, swampy island with only a few fishing villages until 1819 when [[Sir Stamford Raffles]] of the British [[East India Company]] was given permission to establish a trading station by the Sultan of Johor.  Raffles had spotted its strategic location as a crossroads on the shipping routes to the East and set about turning the island into a free trading station.<ref>[http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/about_singapore/brief_history.html] Uniquely Singapore - Brief History</ref> Alongside the British colonial presence it attracted many entrepreneurs from China, India and the Middle East and within 5 years the population rose from 150 to 10,000. In 1824 the British bought the island outright from the Sultan. Following the Anglo-Dutch treaty of 1824, the [[Dutch]], who had largely been the dominant colonial power in south-east Asia, withdrew any objections to the British occupation.
  
The British tended to congregate round the river waterfront and many grand buildings in the Palladian style were built largely with the help of Irish architect George Coleman.<ref>Visitors' Guide to Singapore, 13th Edition, 2006/7, pp.20-21</ref>  With the opening of the [[Suez Canal]] in 1869, the invention of steamships and the laying of long-distance telegraph cables Singapore became increasingly important as a port and trading centre.   
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The British tended to congregate round the river waterfront and many grand buildings in the Palladian style were built largely with the help of Irish architect George Coleman.<ref>Visitors' Guide to Singapore, 13th Edition, 2006/7, pp.20-21</ref>  With the opening of the [[Suez Canal]] in 1869, the invention of steamships and the laying of long-distance telegraph cables Singapore became increasingly important as a port and trading center.   
  
At the outbreak of [[World War II]], Singapore was regarded as a well-defended base for the Allies in the Far-East.  However, on February 15, 1942 Singapore fell to the [[Japanese]] after six-days of fighting. The occupationof the next three and a half years was brutal with many atrocities and war-crimes being committed. The island was renamed Syonan (Light of the South) until the defeat of Japan.  The occupying forces formally surrendered to the British at the Changi prison-camp in September 1945.
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At the outbreak of [[World War II]], Singapore was regarded as a well-defended base for the Allies in the Far-East.  However, on February 15, 1942 Singapore fell to the [[Japanese]] after six-days of fighting. The occupation of the next three and a half years was brutal with many atrocities and war-crimes being committed. The island was renamed Syonan (Light of the South) until the defeat of Japan.  The occupying forces formally surrendered to the British at the Changi prison-camp in September 1945.
  
In 1946, Singapore became a British Crown Colony. However, the communist insurgency in Malaya of 1948 put Singapore in a state of emergency for 12 years. There was a rise of nationalism during the 1950s as the merchant classes wanted to have a say in government and in 1959 Singapore was granted self-government under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew. In 1963 Singapore merged with [[Federation of Malaya|Federated Malaya]] and the Borneo states of Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah) to create Malaysia.  The third Borneo state of Brunei opted for independence.  This merger was actively opposed by the neighbouring states of Indonesia and the Philippines.  The union did not last long, owing to ideological differences between Lee Kuan Yew's PAP (People's Action Party) and the federal government in Kuala Lumpur.  Singapore was obliged to withdraw and became a sovereign, independent nation on August 9, 1965.
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In 1946, Singapore became a British Crown Colony. However, the communist insurgency in Malaya of 1948 put Singapore in a state of emergency for 12 years. There was a rise of nationalism during the 1950s as the merchant classes wanted to have a say in government and in 1959 Singapore was granted self-government under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew. In 1963 Singapore merged with [[Federation of Malaya|Federated Malaya]] and the Borneo states of Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah) to create Malaysia.  The third Borneo state of Brunei opted for independence.  This merger was actively opposed by the neighboring states of Indonesia and the Philippines.  The union did not last long, owing to ideological differences between Lee Kuan Yew's PAP (People's Action Party) and the federal government in Kuala Lumpur.  Singapore was obliged to withdraw and became a sovereign, independent nation on August 9, 1965.
  
 
With only a small land mass and limited natural resources Singapore was forced to industrialize and develop its technical prowess alongside its trading and transportation hub role. Government policies emphasized the role of education, especially in computer science, and, increasingly, bio-sciences.  
 
With only a small land mass and limited natural resources Singapore was forced to industrialize and develop its technical prowess alongside its trading and transportation hub role. Government policies emphasized the role of education, especially in computer science, and, increasingly, bio-sciences.  

Revision as of 20:07, February 27, 2011

Singapore flag

Singapore (Malay: Singa (lion) + pura (city)) is a city-state and republic, situated on a group of islands at the southern tip of the Malay peninsula.


Singapur.jpg

People

Girls, 2010.

Its population of about 4 million people is 76% ethnic Chinese, 14% Malay, 7% Tamil and 3% others.

History

Guan Yin Temple.

Singapore was an ignored, swampy island with only a few fishing villages until 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company was given permission to establish a trading station by the Sultan of Johor. Raffles had spotted its strategic location as a crossroads on the shipping routes to the East and set about turning the island into a free trading station.[1] Alongside the British colonial presence it attracted many entrepreneurs from China, India and the Middle East and within 5 years the population rose from 150 to 10,000. In 1824 the British bought the island outright from the Sultan. Following the Anglo-Dutch treaty of 1824, the Dutch, who had largely been the dominant colonial power in south-east Asia, withdrew any objections to the British occupation.

The British tended to congregate round the river waterfront and many grand buildings in the Palladian style were built largely with the help of Irish architect George Coleman.[2] With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the invention of steamships and the laying of long-distance telegraph cables Singapore became increasingly important as a port and trading center.

At the outbreak of World War II, Singapore was regarded as a well-defended base for the Allies in the Far-East. However, on February 15, 1942 Singapore fell to the Japanese after six-days of fighting. The occupation of the next three and a half years was brutal with many atrocities and war-crimes being committed. The island was renamed Syonan (Light of the South) until the defeat of Japan. The occupying forces formally surrendered to the British at the Changi prison-camp in September 1945.

In 1946, Singapore became a British Crown Colony. However, the communist insurgency in Malaya of 1948 put Singapore in a state of emergency for 12 years. There was a rise of nationalism during the 1950s as the merchant classes wanted to have a say in government and in 1959 Singapore was granted self-government under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew. In 1963 Singapore merged with Federated Malaya and the Borneo states of Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah) to create Malaysia. The third Borneo state of Brunei opted for independence. This merger was actively opposed by the neighboring states of Indonesia and the Philippines. The union did not last long, owing to ideological differences between Lee Kuan Yew's PAP (People's Action Party) and the federal government in Kuala Lumpur. Singapore was obliged to withdraw and became a sovereign, independent nation on August 9, 1965.

With only a small land mass and limited natural resources Singapore was forced to industrialize and develop its technical prowess alongside its trading and transportation hub role. Government policies emphasized the role of education, especially in computer science, and, increasingly, bio-sciences.

References

  1. [1] Uniquely Singapore - Brief History
  2. Visitors' Guide to Singapore, 13th Edition, 2006/7, pp.20-21