How Singapore Became Independent
On August 9, 1965, Singapore became an independent country. The island had not set out to become a nation on its own just two years earlier. In 1963, it had joined a larger country called Malaysia. Its separation from Malaysia came after political and economic disagreements that proved difficult to resolve.
Singapore’s independence was therefore both an ending and a beginning: the end of a short-lived union and the start of a new government’s responsibility for an independent state.
A port with a long history
Singapore lies near the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, close to important sea routes linking the Indian and Pacific oceans. Its location helped it develop into a busy trading center. Along the waterfront, ships and smaller boats carried goods through the port, while warehouses stored cargo arriving from or leaving for other places.
Britain established a trading post in Singapore in 1819, and Singapore later became a British colony. Its population included people with roots in many places, including China, the Malay Peninsula, and India. They brought different languages, religions, and customs, contributing to a diverse society.
- colony:
- A territory controlled by another country.
- self-government:
- Control by a place’s own people or leaders over its government.
- merger:
- The joining of two or more groups or entities into one.
- federal:
- Relating to the central government of a federation.
- ethnic:
- Relating to a group of people who share a cultural background or traditions.
- separation:
- The act of becoming apart from a group or union.
- manufacturing:
- The making of goods, often in factories.
- observance:
- An event or practice that marks an important occasion.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How did Singapore’s location contribute to its development as a trading center?
- 2How did Singapore’s political status change from 1959 to 1965?
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About this explanatory article passage for Middle School
“How Singapore Became Independent” is a explanatory article reading passage about Singapore independence, written for Middle School. It takes about 5 minutes to read (795 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.