The RendelConstitution
Part 3Chapter7
The riots in the early 1950 had signaledto the British the discontentment of the local peopletowards them.
In 1953, the British decided to grant more political power to the local people to win their hearts and minds.
Sir George Rendel, a British diplomat, led a commission to recommend possible changes to the constitution –Rendel Constitution.
What are the featuresof the
Rendel Constitution?
Areas of Government underElected Local Ministers
Local representatives in Legislative Assembly controlled less important areas of government.
Nominated British MinistersBritish would control important areas of government.
Limited Self Government
British Government
(based in London)Governor
Chief Minister + 6 elected ministers
appointed from 25 elected members of
the Assembly
25 electednon-officials
3 nominated British
ministerswho are British
officials
3 British officials +
4 non-officials nominated by the
Governor
Areas under Local Ministers
Housing Healthcare Education
Areas under British Ministers
Internal Security
External Defense
Finance
This showed the unwillingnessof British to
give up their power.
However, the Rendel Constitution
was an important step
toself-government
in Singapore.
The1955
election
More political parties formed to participate in the 1955 election.
Labour Front (LF)
People’s Action Party (PAP)
Labour Front
Formed in July 1954.
Led by David Marshall, Lim Yew Hock and Francis Thomas.
It was made up of people with low income and English-educated trade union leaders.
People’s Action PartyFormed on 21 November 1954.
Founded by Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Keng Swee, Toh Chin Chye, S. Rajaratnam and K.M. Byme.
It wanted to gain support from the workers, trade unions and students in the Chinese schools.
SimilaritiesLabour Front
It wanted immediate independence.
Both parties targeted to win the support of the large majority of Chinese-speaking people in the 1955 election.
They promised the people that they could end Britishrule in Singapore.
People’s Action Party
1955 electionUnlike the election in 1948, this election garnered more
interest from the people.
25,072
158,075
1948 Election 1955 Election
Turnout
Why were the people in general more interested in the 1955 election?
1. This election promised a greater degree of self-government.
2. There were a greater no. of political parties involved.
3. The number of eligible voters increased.
The different political parties carried out intensive campaigning, focusing on the issue of anti-colonialism.
House-to-house visits.
Rallies
Newspapers and Pamphlets.
Public speeches
Who won?
Labour Front (LF) was the biggest winner as they won 10out of 25 seats. David Marshall became Singapore’s first
Chief Minister to lead the Legislative Assembly.
Reasons for LF’s win
1. Many Singaporeans were impressed by the party’s strong anti-colonial stand.
2. David Marshall had a charismatic leadership.
PAPThe People’s Action Party (PAP) which had 4 candidates contesting in the election managed to win 3 seats.
Goh Chew Chua
Lee Kuan Yew Lim Chin Siong
Surprise win by LF from British’s viewThe outcome caught British by surprise as they expected SPP to be the biggest winner of the 1955 election.
is the number of seats that SPP won.
What was the implication
of the 1955 election results?
What can you infer from the poster
with regards to the
implicationof the
1955 election results?
I can infer that …
Implicationof the 1955
election results
The majority of the working-class Chinese had expressed discontentment with the British rule.
Political parties which showed strong
anti-British rule
Political parties which were pro-British
SummaryPart 3Rendel Constitution & 1955 Election
Q1: What is the Rendel
Constitution?
Q2: What are the features of the
RendelConstitution?
Q3:What is the significance of
the RendelConstitution?
Q4: What is the implication of
the 1955 elections?
Created by
Goh Bang Rui
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