Workers were unhappy with their low wagesand poor working conditions

Chinese middle school students felt theywere treated unfairly by the British colonialgovernment

Maria Hertogh riots 1950

Chinese Chamber of Commerce started apetition in 1951 for the British colonialgovernment to grant citizenship toChinaborn Chinese immigrants over theage of 21

The Chinaborn Chinese felt that theyshould also be treated and given the sameprivileges as the localborn Chinese as theyhave already made their homes inSingapore

they do not want to be regarded as aliensand want the same voting privileges andnaturalisation papers to be certified as acitizen.

After 1948, the colonial governmentrecruited more locals into the civil servicebut the British officials continued to enjoybetter pay and hold senior positions eventhough the locals were equallywellqualified.

Local civil servants opposed the Britishcolonial government's unequal treatmentof the locals and demanded that thegovernment raise their pay.

there was a change in mindset andincreased political consciousness andawareness among the people in Singaporeafter the Japanese Occupation.

political groups emerged, such as theMalayan Democratic Union (MDU), formedin 1945 comprising of mainly localborn,Englisheducated Chinese, Indians andEurasians. Members of the MDU oftendiscussed how they wanted to begoverned.

insufficient food due to disruption of trade

black market thrived, food continued to besold at high prices

jobs were limited due to lack of trade andbusinesses

houses were scarce

living conditions were cramped andovercrowded

rents were high due to shortage ofhousing

many children did not attend school duringJapanese Occupation

wanted to continue with education afterBritish returned

but there were insufficient schools,teachers, textbooks to meet demands foreducation

trade was disrupted during the war

businesses needed time to recover

some students chose not to return toschool and entered the workforce but jobswere limited for them