Sovereign successor to British Malaya, combining nine Malay states and the Straits Settlements of Penang and Malacca (excluding Singapore); became fully independent on 31 August 1957 (Merdeka).
Merged with Singapore, North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak on 16 September 1963 to form Malaysia.
Focused study of the Federation of Malaya's path from British rule to full sovereignty in 1957.