History Test 10 Feb 2009 Sample Answers

Explain the weaknesses of Penang and Bencoolen in serving British interests in the Malay Archipelago in the 18^th Century CE. (4m)

The British interest in this region was the lucrative China-India trade. This trade has become very lucrative and profitable for the British and hence there was a need to safeguard and protect it. However the Dutch monopoly of the trade routes threatened the British shipping and interest. There was thus a need to break Dutch monopoly so that China trade could continue.

The British needed to find a port to attract trade and to check Dutch activities. However Penang and Bencoolen were unsuitable. Penang was located too far up north from the main trading areas and hence unable to attract trade. This meant that Penang was unsuitable as a port to break Dutch monopoly. In addition, Bencoolen was located on the wrong side of Sumatra facing the Indian Ocean. This meant that the British could not use it to protect their ships along the Straits of Melaka and also not able to monitor Dutch activities. Hence it cannot effectively check dutch expansion in this region.

History Source-based Question Practice Chapter 2

Source A

The Dutch trading activities in the East Indies in the 18^th 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

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

Attempt this question and submit in written copy by 4 February 2009 to Mr Ang.

Chapter 2 Who was the founder of SIngapore?

Here are some slides from Chapter 2 as covered during curriculum time.

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