HIS TORY ASSIGNMENT

HAS DECIDED TO BE KIND

AND HELP EVERYONE OUT WITH HISTORY

1. The source shows that the people living in the East Indies were unhappy at that time as they were poor. This is seen in Source A: ‘fulfills the high task of spreading happiness and welfare among the population’. This proves that the locals were not happy were not respected as their country was poor. They often fight among themselves; this can be proven as Source A states ‘raising its social, economic and political status’. This goes to show that the people were not educated and the Dutch think that they are uncivilized at that time, and felt that they were needed to increase the standard of their living.

These words were spoken in 1928 in a Volksraad session where it was an advisory body including both Indonesian and Dutch were members. It was spoken in the time where the Dutch began bringing the Indonesian archipelago under their administrative authority.

There was no government in Indonesia at that time where the speech was written, therefore, the people were poor and did not have jobs. They were not respected by the people from other countries as Indonesia was not rich then. A country will only get respected if it was rich, so Indonesia would not get any respect from the other countries.

The Dutch governor-general was trying to convince both the Dutch and the Indonesians members who was in the Volksraad that Dutch leadership was indispensable in Indonesia, as he assured that Indonesia will progress and thrive, the locals would not have to suffer so much and they would get education and jobs. Indonesia will then get richer and gain more respect from the other countries. He said: “spreading happiness and welfare among the population and raising its social economic and political status” as he wanted to make sure that he had the support and believe of fellow members by telling them that the Dutch would bring prosperity. Thus this would secure their leadership in Indonesia.

2. It was due to economic reason, political reasons and social reasons.

One of the political reasons is that there was a need to bring order, stability and prosperity to South East Asia as there was a chaotic political situation in parts of South East Asia that disrupted the European trade. There was also a need to bring order and stability to enhance production of raw materials and increase trade.

One of the social reasons is that some European powers wanted to spread Christianity in South East Asia, western powers also believed that European culture was superior and they felt that they were bringing ‘civilisation’ to the natives in the places they colonized and were helping to improve their welfare.