2 COURAGE Adventure Camp 2008

Source Based Question - Utitlity

Source B

Chinese Coolies loading and unloading coal

2) Study Source B. How useful is Source B in showing the contributions of the early immigrants in Singapore? Explain your answer. (5m)

Suggested Answer as discussed in class:

Steps required for answering Utility questions

1) Identify key topic in question – contributions and immigrants
2) Identify key phrases in source – Chinese coolies, carrying coal, providing services, labourers, labour force, ensure smooth running of trade, help economy to prosper
3) Identify key contents not found in source but related to question
Contributions – traders, businessmen, hawkers, letter-writers, middlemen, rickshaw pullers etc etc etc
Immigrants – Malays, Indians, Europeans, Minorities – Armenians, Arabs, Bugis etc
4) You MUST include the word USEFUL in such a question. You MUST also include the word LIMITATIONS in such a question.

Suggested Answer:

Source B is useful in showing the contributions of the early immigrants (introductory statement). It shows Chinese coolies loading and unloading coal (evidence). This suggests that the Chinese were providing essential services like labour (conclusion) which ensured the smooth running of trade and hence contributing to the prosperity of the economy. (explanation)

However, Source B has its limitations. (introductory statement). Source B only provided one aspect of contributions which is trade but the contributions of the Chinese far exceeded that of being a labourer. For example, the Chinese also contributed to the economy by being middlemen who acted as go-between for the Europeans and the Asians. They were also engaged in occupations like hawkers, rickshaw pullers and letter writers who provided basic services to the masses. (examples with explanations)

In addition, the source is also limited in showing a complete picture of the immigrants who came to Singapore (intro statement). The source did not mention other groups of immigrants like the Malays, Indians and Europeans. They contributed in terms of providing labour and vital services like transport and banking. These contributions helped Singapore to prosper.

Chapter 3 Utility Practice Question

Source B
An account of an Indian immigrant.

After the drought wiped out his crops, Mr Veerasamy Sivalingam, 24, was forced to leave his village near Madras (present-day Chennai) to find a job in the city. But the jobs were scarce so he decided to come to Singapore in 1822. According to Mr Veerasamy, “The moment I landed, I heard some men calling for labourers. Two sahibs* wanted to move a hill and dump it in a river. They offered us a rupee a day. Back in Madras, I dig the earth every day but still my belly remains empty. Here, I do the same but will never go hungry.”

* sahibs- Arabic term for gentleman

Adapted from ‘Journey through 1000 years of Asia’s History’ by the Straits Times, 2000

a) How useful is the source in explaining the reasons why immigrants came to Singapore? Explain your answer. [6m]

Remember the steps that we discussed in class!

Test Correction Test 1 29 January 2008

Source A
Archaeological finds in Fort Canning

At the Fort Canning Park site, more than 30,000 pieces of artifacts have been unearthed to date, hinting at the existence of a fortified city in the vicinity some 500 years before the arrival of the British. Thousands of glass artifacts, together with iron tools, further point to the likelihood of early Singaporeans being technologically inclined while the discovery of a carbon layer with fire-blackened and cracked stones suggests that fire was used in some kind of industrial activity, possibly in a craftsmen’s workshop on Fort Canning Hill.

The digs have also yielded a wide variety of objects which strengthen the belief that ancient Singapore was a trading hub connected to China, South Asia and other parts of Southeast Asia. Items ranging from a compass, wine cups and ceramic pillows to coins from China and Sri Lanka have been found so far. A blue and white stemcup for wine, of a type used mainly by the Chinese elite, turned up at the Fort Canning Park site.

Adapted from http://www.nus.edu.sg/corporate/research/gallery/research17.htm

1. Read Source A. What information does Source A reveal about the life of early Singapore? Explain your answer. (4m)

Level 1 Lift information from the source (1m)

Source A shows that people in early Singapore used tools and objects like porcelain pillows, wine cups and compass.

Level 2 Uses information from source and make attempts to explain from evidence (2-3m)

Source A shows that the people of early Singapore used objects like iron tools. This suggests that the people could have been technologically advanced as they have the means to produce such objects.

In addition, Source A also shows that the people used objects like compass and Chinese wine cups. This implies that the people could have been engaged in trade and traded with the Chinese.

(2m for 1 point and 3m for 2 points)

Level 3 Makes inferences using evidence from source and provides logical explanations with reference to the key topic of the questions (3-4m)

Source A shows that 30,000 artifacts including glass objects and iron tools were excavated in Fort Canning. This suggests that life in early Singapore could have been very vibrant as the people seemed to be technologically and social advance to utilize such objects for daily usage.

In addition, Source A also shows that objects like compass and Chinese wine cups were found at the Fort Canning site. This implies that people could have involved in trading activities with the Chinese and thus life would have been prosperous as the society would probably be thriving with the exchange of foreign products.

(3m for 1 point and 4m for 2 points)


Source B
The Dutch trading activities in the East Indies in the 18th Century CE

With a huge fleet of warships and a strong army, the Dutch were enforcing stricter rules about trade. They did not allow the British to trade freely in the Archipelago. British ships were not allowed to trade with any of the Dutch-controlled ports except Batavia (modern day Jakarta). The British traders were charged high fees for using the port facilities at Batavia and had to pay heavy taxes on goods which they sold or bought.

They sent officials and soldiers to occupy new areas controlled by local rulers who had been independent, or free from Dutch rule. British ships and traders were shut out from these areas. The Dutch wanted to keep British trade to the ports of Penang and Bencoolen. But Raffles knew that with only these two ports, the British could never break the monopoly of the Dutch.

Adapted from http://library.thinkquest.org/10414/founding.html


2. Read Source B. What information can you obtain from Source B about Anglo-Dutch relations in the 18th Century CE? Explain your answer.

Level 1 Lift information from the source (1m)

Source A shows that the Dutch were enforcing stricter rules on trade and did not allow the British to trade freely in the Malay Archipelago.

Level 2 Uses information from source and make attempts to explain from evidence (2-3m)

Source A shows that the Dutch were enforcing strict rules about trade by imposing taxes and restricting the British traders to Batavia. This suggests that the Dutch were very aggressive and was trying to enforce a trade monopoly.

In addition Source A also shows that the Dutch was trying to restrict the British trade to Penang and Bencoolen. This implies that the British were not able to compete effectively with the Dutch.

(2m for 1 point and 3m for 2 points)

Level 3 Makes inferences using evidence from source and provides logical explanations with reference to the key topic of the questions (3-4m)

Source A shows that the Dutch were enforcing strict rules about trade through the use of warships and force. They also did not allow the British to trade freely in the Malay Archipelago. This suggests that the Dutch were very aggressive in trade in this area and thus probably caused the British much anxiety. This might have resulted in strained Anglo Dutch relations between the two powers.

In addition, Source A also shows that the Dutch were enforcing a trade monopoly by shutting out the British traders and restricting them to Penang and Bencoolen. This implies that the British would not have any ports to trade with in this region except for Penang and Bencoolen. This might have resulted in the British being threatened by the aggressiveness of the Dutch which led to the deterioration of Anglo-Dutch relations.

(3m for 1 point and 4m for 2 points)


Short Answer Question

2. Elaborate on the weaknesses of Penang and Bencoolen in serving British interest in the Malay Archipelago in the 18th Century CE. (4m)

Level 1 Stating that the two ports were unsuitable because of location (1-2m)

Penang was unsuitable because it was located too far north from the main trading areas of the Malay Archipelago.
Bencoolen was unsuitable because it was located on the wrong side of Sumatra facing the Indian Ocean.

(1m for 1 point and 2m for 2 points)

Level 2 Explaining the ports poor location in relation to the main trading areas of the Malay Archipelago (2-3m)

Penang was unsuitable because it was located too far north from the main trading areas. As such it was unable to attract the trade of the main trading areas as traders were unwilling to make the long trip there. In addition, Penang was not in a good position to protect British shipping along the Straits of Melaka.

Bencoolen was unsuitable because it was located on the wrong side of Sumatra facing the Indian Ocean. It was not in an ideal position to protect British shipping along the Straits of Melaka. In addition, it was unable to effectively monitor Dutch activities in the main trading areas.

(2m for 1 point and 3m for 2 points)

Level 3 Expect Level 2 answer plus explaining the importance of the British interest in the India-China trade (4m)

Level 2 answer plus

Due to the poor locations of Penang and Bencoolen, they were thus unable to protect British shipping along the India-China trade route and hence unable to safeguard British interest in the China trade. This meant that the British interest in the lucrative India-China trade was vulnerable to Dutch harassment and restrictions and in danger of being disrupted.