immigrations
Population Growth
A few months after Singapore was founded, the population began to grow very quickly. By 1821, Singapore's population had increased to about 5000. The main cause of this increase was immigration. Singapore in the 19th century attracted many people from different parts of the world. Businessmen and traders came here to trade while others came to look for jobs.
Satay Seller
At that time, more men came to Singapore than women. This was especially so for the Chinese and Indians. Most of the Chinese and Indian immigrants did not intend to stay long in Singapore, so they did not bring their womenfolk along. This meant that the Chinese and Indians could not set up families here even though there were large numbers of them.
However, unlike the Chinese and Indians, the Malays and Europeans brought their families along when they came to Singapore. Thus, the number of Malay and European men was almost equal to the number of Malay and European women. While most Europeans returned home after they had completed their work here, most of the Malays settled with their families in Singapore.
Types Of Labourers
Many people came to Singapore to work because there were a lot of jobs in Singapore. Men were needed for jobs such as the clearing land for plantations, the building of roads, and the building of houses and offices. They were also needed to work in vegetable gardens and plantations owned by the rich planters. Anyone who was willing to work could find a job. Two of the largest groups of labourers who came to work in Singapore were the Chinese and the Indians. These labourers were called coolies.
Coolie
Free and Contract Labourers
There were many people looking for jobs and many employers looking for workers. Middlemen were needed to bring the two groups together. This was especially necessary if the workers were in India or China and could not afford to pay for their journey to Singapore. These middlemen were called coolie agents.
A few months after Singapore was founded, the population began to grow very quickly. By 1821, Singapore's population had increased to about 5000. The main cause of this increase was immigration. Singapore in the 19th century attracted many people from different parts of the world. Businessmen and traders came here to trade while others came to look for jobs.
Satay Seller
At that time, more men came to Singapore than women. This was especially so for the Chinese and Indians. Most of the Chinese and Indian immigrants did not intend to stay long in Singapore, so they did not bring their womenfolk along. This meant that the Chinese and Indians could not set up families here even though there were large numbers of them.
However, unlike the Chinese and Indians, the Malays and Europeans brought their families along when they came to Singapore. Thus, the number of Malay and European men was almost equal to the number of Malay and European women. While most Europeans returned home after they had completed their work here, most of the Malays settled with their families in Singapore.
Types Of Labourers
Many people came to Singapore to work because there were a lot of jobs in Singapore. Men were needed for jobs such as the clearing land for plantations, the building of roads, and the building of houses and offices. They were also needed to work in vegetable gardens and plantations owned by the rich planters. Anyone who was willing to work could find a job. Two of the largest groups of labourers who came to work in Singapore were the Chinese and the Indians. These labourers were called coolies.
Coolie
Free and Contract Labourers
There were many people looking for jobs and many employers looking for workers. Middlemen were needed to bring the two groups together. This was especially necessary if the workers were in India or China and could not afford to pay for their journey to Singapore. These middlemen were called coolie agents.