The English established Penang (1786)
and Singapore (1819), both strategic
trading sites on the route to China
During the 19th century all
Southeast Asia except Thailand
came under colonial control
French Indochina
British Malaya
British Burma
British protectorates in Borneo
Singapore
Spanish Philippines
(from 1898, under US)
Dutch Netherlands Indies
Portuguese Timor
The reasons for colonization
•  At first, little desire for territorial
control
•  Territorial annexation to protect
trade
•  National pride helped drive
colonialism
•  Links with Europe accelerated:
opening of Suez Canal, 1869
•  Southeast Asia’s proximity to
China
•  Sometimes rule was “direct,”
sometimes indirect (see
Timeline)
Changes in the Nature of
Southeast Asia Economies
•  Importance of SEA as a source of raw
materials for European industrialization
•  Commercialization: Development of
plantations and mines
•  Transportation improved to fuel economic
growth.
•  Migration of other Asians
•  Rice growing expanded
Tea Plantation
Rubber Plantations
Traditional panning in rivers
or small canals
Europeans brought large scale operations
Chulalongkorn of Thailand (1868-­‐1910) begins to modernize, makes compromises with Europeans, avoids colonizaQon. The Colonial Legacy in Southeast Asia at
the beginning of the 20th century
•  Economic developments did not bring technology and opportuni:es to people, who worked harder without benefits. •  Colonial economy became dependent on that of colonizing power. •  Growth of poverty, landlessness and tenancy. •  Limited educa:on •  Improved health, and a general lack of warfare meant popula:on grew, but without increase in resources •  Limited poli:cal par:cipa:on and freedom •  Plural socie:es and ethnic divisions of labor (e.g. Chinese & Indian migra:on, specialized occupa:ons). Different groups live side by side but don’t interact. Meanwhile, in Japan . . 1853 arrival of Mathew Perry and Treaty o Kanagawa, 1854 Meiji period: Japan industrializes Meiji Emperor, 1868-­‐1912 ModernizaQon Opening of Azuma Bridge, Tokyo Sino-­‐Japanese War, 1894-­‐5 Japanese arQsts produced many depicQons of valor in warfare The Dying Hero [In the Sino –Japanese War] Kiyochika Kobayashi 1847-­‐1915 PercepQons: The Russo-­‐Japanese War, 1904-­‐5 1906: Meiji Emperor receives the Order of the Garter, as a result of the Anglo-­‐Dutch treaty The following years. . . 1910 : ColonizaQon of Korea 1915: Twenty Demands presented to China 1921-­‐2: Washington Agreements 1930: London Naval agreements limit shipbuilding •  1933: Japan leaves League of NaQons, •  Growing militarizaQon •  1937: Undeclared war with China (see City of Life and Death, now showing at Kahala Theater) • 
• 
• 
• 
Japanese Expansion The success of Japan encouraged Southeast Asia aspiraQons for independence. •  1896: Philippine RevoluQon, but US acquires Philippines amer Spanish-­‐
American War 1898 •  Filipinos resist, war breaks out, but by 1902 Americans were in control Feb. 1899: Troops of the 14th Infantry Regiment 1899: Prisoners of war and Filipino dead hap://philippineamericanwar.webs.com/filamwarbreaksout.htm The Philippines: American Colonization
Take up the White Man's burden-Send forth the best ye breed-Go, bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait, in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild-Your new-caught sullen peoples,
Half devil and half child.
---Rudyard Kipling, 1899
American ideas of a different
type of colonialism: stressed
education, promised
independence
1900: In Netherlands Indies the Dutch introduce the Ethical Policy More young Southeast Asian men are traveling overseas for educaQon Indonesian students club, The Netherlands InstallaQon of the Dutch Governor-­‐
General, Batavia (Jakarta), 1937 But naQonalism is developing everywhere •  1906: YMBA in Burma •  1928: Youth Oath in Netherlands Indies •  1929: World Depression •  Chinese NaQonalism •  1920-­‐30: FormaQon of Communist ParQes in Southeast Asia Conclusion •  By the 1930s the world was on the brink of great change •  Militarism was on the rise in Japan, and it had already staked out territorial claims on the mainland •  Japan hoped to achieve its goals in Southeast Asia without resorQng to war. •  The rise of Southeast Asian naQonalism was a major challenge to colonialism •  The economic disaster of the late 1920s and 1930s accentuated the costs of colonialism •  Southeast Asians were ready to receive the Japanese promise of a new beginning