Burma Notes

The Konbaung Dynasty and the Loss of Independence

1. King Mindon (r. 1853–1878)
   1. Reformer who modernized the army, encouraged trade, and established Mandalay as the royal capital.
2. Modernization Efforts
   1. Built roads, introduced a new currency, and sent missions to Europe to modernize Burma’s economy and administration.
3. King Thibaw (r. 1878–1885)
   1. Young and inexperienced ruler facing internal divisions and growing British pressure.
4. British Ambitions
   1. Britain wanted access to Burmese teak, oil, and trade routes into China.
5. Reasons for Loss of Independence
   1. Political instability, weak leadership, and economic rivalry with British India led to colonization.

The Three Anglo–Burmese Wars and British Conquest

1. First War (1824–1826)
   1. Triggered by border conflicts between Burma and British India; Britain seized Arakanand Tenasserim.
2. Second War (1852)
   1. Sparked by trade disputes in Rangoon; Britain annexed Lower Burma, including the port of Rangoon (Yangon).
3. Third War (1885)
   1. Britain accused King Thibaw of allying with France; invaded Upper Burma and annexed the whole country.
4. Administrative Reforms
   1. Burma became a province of British India (1886).
5. Significance
   1. The wars showed how economic interests were justified by imperial ideology.

British Colonial Rule: Economic, Social, and Cultural Impact

1. Economic Exploitation
   1. Burma turned into a rice-exporting colony; profits went to British firms and Indian middlemen.
2. Land Alienation
   1. Burmese peasants lost land to Indian moneylenders and foreign merchants.
3. Labor Migration
   1. Thousands of Indian workers migrated to Burma, creating ethnic tensions.
4. Cultural Disruption
   1. British education sidelined Buddhist monastic schools and promoted English instruction.
5. Urban Change
   1. Cities like Rangoon modernized but became symbols of colonial inequality.