How Do I Explain Why Something Happened?

Most events have more than one cause. A strong explain answer sorts the causes, links them together and looks at the results. These notes show the three steps with model PEEL paragraphs for one question: why did Singapore separate from Malaysia in 1965? Very different political views were the underlying cause, economic quarrels a contributory cause, and the 1965 "Malaysian Malaysia" campaign the trigger.

Step 1: Sort the Causes

A ginger cat leaping towards a glass of water at the edge of a wobbly kitchen table propped up on a folded paper — Why did the glass smash? Illustration drawn for Our Study Tribe.

The example: a glass smashes. The cat knocked it, but it had sat at the edge all week, on a wobbly table.
Underlying cause: a long-term problem that builds up over time (the glass at the edge).
Contributory cause: adds pressure and makes things worse (the wobbly table).
Trigger: the final event that sets it off (the cat).

How Do I Explain Why Something Happened?

Worked Example: The Underlying Cause

PointThe underlying cause of separation in 1965 was that the PAP and the Alliance held very different political views.
EvidenceThe PAP was multiracial and wanted equal opportunity for all races. Malaysia's Alliance was made up of race-based parties, and Malaysia gave the Malays special privileges.
ElaborationBecause the two governments saw politics and race so differently from the start, they could not agree on how Malaysia should be run, so trust between them was weak throughout merger.
LinkHence, this long-term difference made every later disagreement harder to settle.

Worked Example: A Contributory Cause

PointA contributory cause of separation was economic quarrels between Singapore and the federal government.
EvidenceThe common market was delayed, tariffs stayed, and Singapore was asked to pay 60 per cent of its revenue instead of 40.
ElaborationSingapore had joined Malaysia expecting a common market, so the delays and the demand for more revenue made it feel that merger was not giving it what it had joined for, adding to the existing mistrust.
LinkThus, the economic quarrels made the weak relationship worse.

Worked Example: The Trigger

PointThe trigger for separation was the PAP's "Malaysian Malaysia" campaign in 1965.
EvidenceTensions were already high after the 1964 riots. In 1965, the PAP's "Malaysian Malaysia" campaign deepened the Alliance's mistrust. By mid-1965, the Tunku was convinced the differences could not be fixed, and feared disorder would spread.
ElaborationComing on top of years of political and economic disagreement, the campaign convinced the Tunku that the two sides could never work together, and that keeping Singapore in Malaysia risked further disorder.
LinkTherefore, the Tunku decided that Singapore should leave, and separation followed on 9 August 1965.

Step 2: Link the Causes

A list is describing: three separate causes only describe; the top level explains how they work together.
"Because the two governments saw politics and race so differently, trust was weak from the start."
"The economic quarrels made things worse, because Singapore felt merger wasn't giving it what it had joined for."
"So when the 1965 campaign deepened mistrust even further, the Tunku decided separation was the only way."
Joining words: because, made things worse, so when; they turn a list into an explanation.

Step 3: Look at the Results

Consequences: historians' word for results.
Biggest consequence: Singapore was suddenly on its own and had to find new ways to make a living, and to defend itself.
A link forward: this is one reason National Service began in 1967.
Unintended consequences: merger was meant to bring Singapore and Malaya closer, but the quarrels inside Malaysia pulled them apart.

Sorting Is a Judgement

Example: different ideas about how to treat the races are underlying, because it was a long-term difference, there from the start.
Historians disagree: they do not always sort causes the same way.
Your reasoning: say why you have sorted them your way, because that reasoning is what earns the marks.

In One Sentence

To explain why something happened, sort the causes into underlying, contributory and trigger, link them with joining words to show how they built on one another, and show what they led to.

Think About It

You were late for school today. What could be the underlying cause, a contributory cause and the trigger?
Why does linking causes with words like "because" and "so when" earn more marks than listing them?
Merger led to separation, which nobody planned. Can you think of another decision that had an unintended consequence?