Great Britain in BurmaBy Rachel Wesley

Before Imperialism- MyanmarIndia and China’s trade routes passed

through Myanmar (Burma), therefore keeping the country wealthy◦Agriculture was more important than trade in

economy◦ Indian influence was popular through trade

merchantsFirst country to obtain BuddhismGovernment was centralized

◦Ruled by one king who had checks on his power

◦Broken down into categorized groups

Before Imperialism (of Myanmar)- Great BritainIn the 1800’s,Great Britain was one of

the most advanced nations◦Had the most colonies throughout the world

Used colonies mostly for trade Competed with other nations Spread its global influence

◦Was one of the nations involved in the Berlin Conference

◦Had already established Direct Control in India Myanmar (Burma) is one of India’s neighboring

countries

Motives for Imperialism Great Britain was always in need of supplies to fuel

the Industrial Revolutions’ products. ◦ Burma was in direct trade routes with China and India,

(which was already colonized by Great Britain)◦ Burma was rich in natural resources such as:

Natural Gas Oil Tin Coal Silver and gold Gems (rubies) Large teak forests Fertile rice fields

Anglo-Burmese Wars Britain’s “superiority” enabled them to take care

of “weak” Burma

Anglo-Burmese Wars First War

◦ Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826) Konbaung Dynasty wanted to move into a territory close to a

British colony in India

Second War◦ Anglo-Burmese War (1852)

Britain wanted a teak forest in Southern Burma

Third War◦ Anglo-Burmese War (1885)

British wanted the teak, oil, and rubies in northern Myanmar Blamed king for giving France more influence in country

Outcome◦ After winning all three wars, Britain had claimed most of

Myanmar, eventually gaining the whole country Renamed Myanmar Burma Claimed it a province of India

First Anglo-Burmese War, 1824-1826

Second Anglo-Burmese War, 1852

Third Anglo-Burmese War, 1885

British Imperialism During the Anglo-Burmese Wars

Motives for Imperialism

Geopolitical Reasons: Economic Reasons:

Burma’s western side is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal◦ Easy access points by ship and

harbors

◦ Creates good trade by other countries going to Burmese harbors

Burma is also close to other major trade countries such as China, Thailand, India, and Nepal

Burma had abundant teak forests and rice fields

Burma had abundant natural resources◦ Also in direct trade with

China and India

Britain would use the rice production and teak forests to support trade while taking Burma’s oil and rubies.

China

India

Vietnam

Thailand

Laos

Cambodia

NepalBhutan

Bay of Bengal

Indian OceanGulf of Thailand

South China Sea

Gulf of Tonkis

Andaman Sea

Bangladesh

Burma

Motives for Imperialism

Social Reasons Political Reasons

Great Britain considered themselves to be superior to other “lesser” countries such as Burma◦ Would help the “poor”

Burmese

◦ Burma had a caste system

Competition with other imperialist countries influenced the need for colonization

Britain wanted to expand their empire in the growing world◦ Other countries gaining

territories put pressure on Britain

Britain was already in multiple wars with Burma, and therefore had most of their land

Burma had a strong, centralized government ruled by one leader◦ An “easy target”

Methods of ImperialismBritain used the method of divide and rule by

favoring some ethnic minorities over others. The better were treated with less repression. ◦ The Karen and Karenni were converted to Christianity

and used to rule, the ethnic majority of Burmans were brutally oppressed.

Used direct rule◦ Abolished monarchy

Separated church and state

◦ Secular Education system Founded schools teaching in both English and Burmese Also taught Christianity and frowned upon Buddhist teachings

that were separate from English ways

◦ Burned villages and uprooted disloyal families◦ Replaced them with trustworthy strangers

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"In dealing with the King of Burma, I have felt very strongly that it would not be creditable to us or right to do anything which might be interpreted to show a desire on our part to drive him into a corner and bring on a war... While I write and feel thus pacifically, I cannot avoid feeling also that the present condition of our relations with Burma will not be long maintained... and it is both possible and likely that... sufficient reason will be shown for our insisting upon so far modifying our treaty engagements with the King as to place him in the position of Cashmere, we undertaking to protect him against external attack, and requiring him to abstain from political relations with Foreign States, as well as to meet our views cordially about extension of trade.”

A letter from the Viceroy of India, Lord Northbrook, to the Secretary of State for India:

This letter demonstrates Britain's attempts to make peace with the people of Burma. Although already having three wars with the Burmese, the British don’t want to create more violence and wish that they would strain from having other relations with other powers.

Impact on Imperialized Burma

Geopolitical Results Economic Results

Many Burmese migrated to the delta to get better soil quality and to support the demand for rice◦ Shifted the population

concentration

Industrialization was introduced to Burma◦ Railroads and

steamboats were used for transportation

Britain gained access to Burma’s natural resources for trade◦ Opened to global trade whereas before, it

was to just India and China

To prepare the land for agricultural products, the Burmese had to borrow capital from others at high interest rates◦ The British bank wouldn’t allow mortgages

All methods of transportation were owned by the British◦ Burmese had to pay more to ship their

goods People did not gain from the growing

economy

Advancements toward foreign trade hurt Burmese◦ All the resources taken by Great Britain took

away the supplies needed by the people before the take over

“Foreign landlordism and the operations of foreign moneylenders had led to an increasing exportation of a considerable proportion of the country’s resources and to the progressive impoverishment of the agriculturist and of the country as a whole…. The peasant had grown factually poorer and unemployment had increased….The collapse of the Burmese social system led to a decay of the social conscience which, in the circumstances of poverty and unemployment caused a great increase in crime.”

A British official describing the lives of the Burmese in 1941 and how quickly they had to adapt to foreign trade:

Impact on Imperialized Burma

Social Results Political Results

Britain had separated church and state◦ Hurt Buddhist monks who were

dependent on the monarchy

◦ The church had given the public a political education

Burmese migration to delta caused a shift in population and changed the basis of wealth and power

Many Indian laborers migrated to Burma, lowering the social standard◦ Worked for cheaper prices

◦ Increase in Burmese unemployment

◦ Increase in Burma’s crime and a bad reputation for its people

Great Britain abolished the monarchy◦ The monarchy was given

authority by the Buddhist organization

Very few regulations in favor of the Burmese◦ More so for the Indian

immigrants

Caused an increase in Burmese nationalism

Resistance in BurmaThe Burmese resented both the British and the

Indian immigrants◦ Staged guerrilla warfare

Led by former officers of the Burmese Royal Army

◦ Were often captured and brutally punishedBurmese nationalism rose

◦ Educated Burmese led the revolution against the British

◦ Formed the Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA) in 1906 Was not anti-government nor violent Established schools and boycotted British goods

Thankin movement◦ Radical movement that held country-wide semi-violent

protests

The End

Credits Ernest Chew (1969). The Withdrawal of the Last British Residency

from Upper Burma in 1879. Journal of Southeast Asian History, 10, pp 253-278 doi:10.1017/S0217781100004403

Furnivall, J. S. "Burma, Past and Present." Far Eastern Survey 22.3 (1953): 21-26. Print.

Brännberg, Jonas. "A Potential Paradise Haunted by Poverty and War." Socialistworld.net. Workers' International, 25 Oct. 2004. Web. 19 Oct. 2010. <http://socialistworld.net/eng/2004/10/25burmab.html>.

Bhattacharyya, Anindya. "Britain's Brutal Record of Imperialism in Burma|6Oct07|Socialist Worker." Socialist Worker (Britain) an Anticapitalist, Revolutionary Weekly. 2 Oct. 2007. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. <http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=13130>.

"British Imperialism in Burma/Myanmar." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. WikiMedia, 16 Oct. 2010. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Imperialism_in_Burma/Myanmar>.

Brooks, Ashley. "Burmese Imperialism Map." Map. Britannica. Wikimedia Commons, 4 Mar. 2010. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. <http://media- 2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/35/4035-004-4ECC016C.gif>.