a) Study Source A. What information does Source A reveal about Singapore’s economy between 1929 and 1933? Explain your answer. (4m)
Level 1 Lifting without inference and explanation (1m)
Source A shows that the value of Singapore’s trade decreased from 1172 million in 1929 to 513 million in 1933.
Level 2 Inference unsupported (2m)
Source A shows that Singapore’s economy was badly affected. Singapore’s prosperity depended on trade and with decreasing trade, its economy suffered.
Level 3 Inference supported and explained relevant to question focus (3-4m)
Source A shows that the value of the import fell drastically from 655 to 262 million while that of the export value fell from 517 to 251 million between 1929 and 1933. This implies that there was less trade conducted as the demand for raw materials probably shrank during this period. Hence with less trade, Singapore’s economy was badly affected as it meant that profits would be reduced greatly.
In addition, with the total value of trade falling from 1172 to 513 million, it suggests that many traders would have suffered severe losses and resulted in loss of income. Hence many businesses would have been gravely affected and in turn causing the economy to collapse.
b) Compare Sources B and C. How similar are they in showing the effects of the Great Depression on Singapore’s entrepot status? Explain your answer. (6m)
L1: Similarity OR/AND difference in source type/ source provenance (1-2m)
Both sources are secondary sources and both are adapted from historical references.
L2: Similarity OR/AND difference in source content, unsupported (2-3m)
(Award 2m for 1 similarity and 3m for 1 similarity and 1 difference unsupported)
Sources B and C are similar as both shows Singapore was heavily dependent on foreign trade and with the Great Depression, this status would be badly affected.
Or/And
Sources B and C are different as Source B shows the growth of Singapore’s trade with the increased usage of steamships while Source C shows the decrease in Singapore’s trade due to the fall in demand and prices of rubber.
L3: Similarity OR/AND difference in source content, supported (4-5m)
Sources B and C are similar in showing the effects of the Great Depression on Singapore’s entrepot status. Source B shows that many European and American traders made Singapore their port of call. This implies that much trade was probably conducted using Singapore as a transaction port. Hence, with the Great Depression, it would result in less traders coming and less trade would be conducted thus affecting Singapore’s status as an entrepot centre. (Criteria)
Similarly, Source C shows that there was a heavy decrease in demand for raw materials by the western countries. This suggests that less trade would pass through Singapore as these raw materials were exported from Singapore to the other countries. With less demand and trade, Singapore’s status as an entrepot centre was gravely affected. (Criteria)
In addition, Source B shows that Singapore’s status as a port for collecting and distributing products grew in importance. This implies that Singapore’s lifeline was dependent on entrepot trade and with the Great Depression, its status was severely threatened. Similarly, Source C shows that Singapore’s economy was lifted by the production of automobiles and radios. This implies that Singapore must have been an important entrepot port where raw materials and manufactured products were distributed. With the Great Depression, this entreport status was gravely affected. (Criteria)
However, Sources B and C are also different in the presentation of information. Source B presents a positive picture of Singapore’s trade increasing and the prosperity of the settlement due to its entrepot status. This meant that in good times, Singapore’s entrepot status grew. However, in bad times like the Great Depression, its status will be severely affected. In contrast, Source C shows a negative picture of Singapore’s trade which was badly affected by falling demand and prices of raw materials which resulted in the entrepot status being threatened.
L4: Similarity AND difference in content and purpose supported with reference to contextual knowledge (6m)
Level 3 answer plus:
Both sources tend to educate the readers regarding the dependency of Singapore on external factors. In Source B, Singapore’s trade grew as a result of the demand for raw materials by foreign countries and in Source C, Singapore’s trade decrease due to a fall in demand for these raw materials. This implies that Singapore’s entrepot status was strongly influenced by global forces. Hence, both sources are similar in purpose which is to emphasize that Singapore’s status as an entrepot port is vulnerable and was affected in both positive and negative way.
1) Explain how the opening of the Suez Canal affected Singapore in the late 19th Century to the early 20th Century CE. (5m)
Level 1 State the benefits of using the Suez Canal between Europe and Singapore (1m)
The Suez Canal shortened the distance and time taken to travel between Europe and Singapore.
Level 2 Describe the benefits of using the Suez Canal between Europe and Singapore (2-3m)
Before the opening of the Suez Canal, traders from Europe going to the east had to sail around the Cape of Good Hope. This Cape route is long and dangerous and took about 120 days of travel time. With the opening of the Suez Canal, the distance is reduced and travelling time was cut to about 80 days. This shortened journey and travelling time facilitated more traders coming to Singapore and thus Singapore benefitted from an increased volume of trade.
(Award 2m for description of benefits and 3m for highlighting effects on Singapore)
Level 3 Explain the implications of the Suez Canal and its positive effects on Singapore’s trade (4-5m)
(Award 5m if answer shows understanding of the inter-connectedness of the Suez Canal and the use of steamships)
The opening of the Suez Canal shortened the distance between the East and the West. Prior to this event, traders using the Cape route took about 120 days to sail from London to Singapore. With the Suez Canal, the travelling time was reduced to 80 days. This meant that the cost of shipping goods was reduced due to the savings in distance and time and thus Singapore benefited greatly with the Suez Canal as traders were able to make more profits.
In addition, the opening of the Suez Canal brought about a great expansion in Singapore’s trade. This was due to the increased speed and volume of ships passing through the Straits of Melaka and calling at the port of Singapore to refuel and replenish food supplies. Singapore thus maintained its role as an important port of call and trading centre. (4m)
The opening of the Suez Canal also ushered in the heavy usage of steamships for transporting goods. This was due to the wind conditions in the Red Sea where the wind blows in a north-southerly direction. This was detrimental to traders using sailing vessels and hence many traders used steamships instead.
With more steamships being used, it is thus not feasible to cut through the Indian Ocean to reach the east because of the need to replenish coal. Hence many coaling stations were set up along the coastline from India to Southeast Asia. This in turn indirectly forced the steamships to go via the Straits of Melaka and as a results, many traders made Singapore a stopover as it was conveniently located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. With steamships arriving in an ever increasing volume, Singapore became an important coaling station and port facilities were improved. This in turn benefited Singapore greatly and contributed to its prosperity.
