History Singapore

 Historical dates

In 1819, Sir Raffles bought the island from the Rajah of Johore and set up a city, to ensure British surveillance of the Malay Channel.
At the dawn of the 20th Century, Singapore had established itself as a foremost economic and strategic hub.
In 1942, it was occupied by the Japanese who persecuted the entire population. They left behind a city in ruins following their departure in 1945.
In 1959, the country became independent. Lee Kuan Yew became Prime Minister, and Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963.
In 1965, for mainly ethnic reasons (Chinese ambitions and hegemony), Singapore was expelled from the Federation and declared itself a republic.
In 1990, after 31 years in power which he used to ensure the economic development of the island under an authoritarian regime, Lee Kuan Yew was replaced by Goh Chok Tong, of a more liberal tendency.
In 1997, the Asian crisis did not spare Singapore's economy, that, nevertheless, withstood the shock better than its neighbours.