CHAPTER 3

THE ERA OF MODERNISATION

OF THAILAND

“…Verily! Allah will not change the (good) condition of a

people as long as they do not change their state (of
goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being
ungrateful and disobedient to Allah…”
(Ar-Ra’d:11)

OFF 1
3.1 COMMERCIAL TREATIES WITH WESTERN POWERS

Unlike other countries in

Southeast Asia, Thailand was
able to maintain its
independence and sovereignty in
the nineteenth century.

Reasons:
• Two capable Siamese Kings
(King Mongkut and King

Chulalongkorn)
• Commercial treaties signed
Map of Siam and the Malay States in the 19th with Western powers
century
OFF 2
3.1 COMMERCIAL TREATIES WITH WESTERN POWERS

• First king to open door to

Westerners

• 1825: Britain sent Captain

Henry Burney to ask for trade
concessions for British
merchants
• After long negotiation,
Burney Treaty signed in June
1826

OFF 3
3.1 COMMERCIAL TREATIES WITH WESTERN POWERS

Burney Treaty
1826
The Siamese:
• allowed British to trade
freely with Siam, paying
only customary duties
• allowed British to trade
with Malay states under
Siamese control
The British:
• acknowledged Siamese
control over Perlis,
Trengganu, Kedah and
Kelantan
• agreed not to interfere
in governments of Perak
and Selangor

OFF 4
3.1 COMMERCIAL TREATIES WITH WESTERN POWERS

1833: American Edmund King Rama III less

Roberts negotiated for suspicious of American
trade relations with Siam political intentions

Americans: trading 1833: Treaty signed

concessions with between United States of
Siam America and Siam

However, American
Siamese: moderate
request to set up
port duties for
consulate in Siam was
Americans
denied
OFF 5
3.2 SIAM UNDER KING MONGKUT (1851 – 1868)

Mongkut’s main concern as

king was to preserve Siam’s
independence and sovereignty.

He introduced a series of
reforms.

King Mongkut
• Reorganised administrative department
• Brought in experts from West, eg. American custom officials,
French military personnel
OFF 6
3.2 SIAM UNDER KING MONGKUT (1851 – 1868)
• Increased trade with West
• Duties on goods lowered
• Export of Siamese rice
• 1861: Royal Mint established
• Encouraged English education
• Invited missionaries to teach
in Siamese schools
• 1862: Mrs Anna Leonowens
invited to teach his children
• Internal communication improved
• Freedom of press allowed
• Paid labour replaced forced labour
• Abolished slavery
OFF 7
3.2 SIAM UNDER KING MONGKUT (1851 – 1868)
FOREIGN POLICY
King Mongkut adopted a friendly policy with countries.
This was done to preserve Siamese independence.

Bowring Treaty 1855

• British could trade freely
in Siam
• British could buy or rent
land within 6 kilometers of
Bangkok
• British subjects to have
extraterritorial rights
• British envoy to reside in
Bangkok
Sir John Bowring
OFF 8
3.2 SIAM UNDER KING MONGKUT (1851 – 1868)

After Bowring Treaty, King Mongkut signed similar treaties

with France, America, Denmark, Portugal and Holland.

Foreign firms began to invest

in Siam and thus developed its
economy.

King Mongkut’s foreign policy

safeguarded Siam from foreign
attack.

OFF 9
3.3 SIAM UNDER KING CHULALONGKORN (1868- 1910)

• Was sixteen years old when his

father died
• As he was too young to rule, he
ascended the throne only at the age
of twenty one
• Visited Singapore, Java and India
(first Siamese king to have been
abroad)
• When he ascended the throne, he
extended the modernisation
programme of Siam

OFF 10
3.3 SIAM UNDER KING CHULALONGKORN (1868- 1910)
• Stopped practice of
prostration
• 1874: abolished slavery
• Ended forced labour
• Prince Damrong as
Minister of Home Affairs
• Siam divided into 18 areas
known as monthons
• Each monthon divided into
regions, districts and villages
OFF
• Encouraged the spread of
English education
• Reorganised Siamese education
• 1889: Education Department
• Prince Rabi as Minister of Justice
• 1891: Law School to train
Siamese lawyers
• Western system of criminal, civil
and Court of Appeals set up
11
3.3 SIAM UNDER KING CHULALONGKORN (1868- 1910)

• Communication system improved

• Railway lines built
• Trade with West increased

King Chulalongkorn tried to

continue father’s policy of
friendship and diplomacy to the
West. This was to prevent Siam
from falling into hands of the
West.

OFF 12
3.3 SIAM UNDER KING CHULALONGKORN (1868- 1910)
Relationship with France
France extended power into Indo-China
(vassal state of Siam).

To prevent France from entering Siam’s

boundaries, treaty signed. Siam ceded
Cambodia and other provinces to
France.

France gave up extraterritorial rights in

Siam.

OFF 13
3.3 SIAM UNDER KING CHULALONGKORN (1868- 1910)
Relationship with Britain

• Signing of treaty between Siam and Britain – Treaty of

Bangkok in 1909.

• Siam’s rights over Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Trengganu

transferred to Britain.

• In return, Britain surrendered extraterritorial rights in Siam.

•Britain gave Siam a loan of 4 million pounds to build a railway.

OFF 14
CHAPTER 3: SUMMARY

Chronology of treaties signed between Siam and West

1826: Burney Treaty - First treaty signed between

Siam and Britain

1833: Signed commercial treaty with the Americans

1855: The Bowring Treaty signed with Britain was

followed by a series of treaties with other Western
powers

15
CHAPTER 3: SUMMARY

1867: A Siamese embassy was sent to Paris. A

Treaty of Friendship was signed between France
and Siam

1893: Siam signed a treaty with the French ceding

the territories east of Mekong

1904 -1907: Treaties with France to end

extraterritorial rights

1909: Bangkok Treaty signed with Britain

16