Anglo-Burmese Relations
Modern History › Extension of British Paramountcy and Frontier Policy · Topic 8.6
Three Anglo-Burmese Wars (1824-26, 1852 and 1885) ended in the annexation of Burma into British India. The First Burma War ended in the Treaty of Yandabo, the Second took Pegu under Dalhousie, and the Third, under Dufferin, ended the Burmese monarchy. Burma was separated from India in 1937.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Extension of British Paramountcy
At a Glance
- What it is Three wars between the Company and Burma
- Wars 1824-26, 1852 and 1885
- First war treaty Treaty of Yandabo, 1826
- End Annexation of Burma into British India
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Extension of British Paramountcy
Where Does It Fit?
This is the sixth topic of the category on the extension of British paramountcy. The previous topic covered Bhutan and Nepal. This topic covers Burma, where the British fought three wars. The next topic covers Tibet and Afghanistan. Previous topic: Anglo-Bhutanese and Anglo-Nepalese Relations.
Why Did the British Go to War With Burma?
In the beginning of the 19th century, Burma was a free country and wanted to expand westward. The expansionist urges of the British, fuelled by the lure of the forest resources of Burma, a market for British manufactures in Burma and the need to check French ambitions in Burma and the rest of South-East Asia, resulted in three Anglo-Burmese Wars, and in the end the annexation of Burma into British India in 1885.
| War | Years | British governor-general or viceroy |
|---|---|---|
| First Burma War | 1824-26 | Amherst, as Governor-General |
| Second Burma War | 1852 | Lord Dalhousie |
| Third Burma War | 1885 | Lord Dufferin |
What Happened in the First Burma War (1824-26)?
Burmese expansion westwards and the occupation of Arakan and Manipur, and the threat to Assam and the Brahmaputra Valley, led to continuous friction along the ill-defined border between Bengal and Burma in the opening decades of the nineteenth century. The British expeditionary forces occupied Rangoon in May 1824 and reached within 72 km of the capital at Ava.
Peace was established in 1826 with the Treaty of Yandabo, which provided that the Government of Burma:
- War compensation Pay rupees one crore
- Cession Cede its coastal provinces of Arakan and Tenasserim
- Claims Abandon claims on Assam, Cachar and Jaintia
- Manipur Recognise Manipur as an independent state
- Commerce Negotiate a commercial treaty with Britain
- Diplomacy Accept a British Resident at Ava, while posting a Burmese envoy at Calcutta
What Happened in the Second Burma War (1852)?
The second war was the result of the British commercial need and the imperialist policy of Lord Dalhousie. British merchants were keen to get hold of the timber resources of upper Burma and also sought further inroads into the Burmese market. This time the British occupied Pegu, the only remaining coastal province of Burma. An intense guerrilla resistance had to be overcome before complete British control of lower Burma could be established.
The second war is part of Dalhousie’s wider expansion, described in Doctrine of Lapse and Annexation of Awadh.
What Happened in the Third Burma War (1885)?
After the death of the Burmese king Mindon, his son Thibaw succeeded to the throne. Thibaw was hostile towards the British from the beginning. British merchants at Rangoon and in lower Burma complained about the step-motherly treatment by Thibaw, who had also been negotiating commercial treaties with the rival powers France, Germany and Italy. The French also planned to lay a rail link from Mandalay to French territory, at a time when the British were in conflict with the French in Niger, Egypt and Madagascar. A humiliating fine had been imposed on a British timber company by Thibaw.
Dufferin ordered the invasion and the final annexation of upper Burma in 1885. The annexation was proclaimed on 1 January 1886.
| Cause of the third war | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hostility | Thibaw was hostile to the British from the start |
| Merchants | British merchants at Rangoon complained of step-motherly treatment |
| Rivals | Thibaw negotiated commercial treaties with France, Germany and Italy |
| Rail link | The French planned a rail link from Mandalay to French territory |
| Fine | A humiliating fine on a British timber company |
What Happened to Burma Afterwards?
The British had to face a strong guerrilla uprising in the whole of Burma soon after the annexation, and a nationalist movement after the First World War. The Burmese nationalists joined hands with the Indian National Congress. To weaken this link, Burma was separated from India. The Government of India Act 1935 provided for the separation, which took effect in 1937. The Burmese nationalist movement intensified under U Aung San during the Second World War, and Burma became independent on 4 January 1948.
As an analytical point, the three wars show three motives in order: border friction (1824), commercial gain (1852) and strategic rivalry with France (1885).
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Direct facts The three wars, the Treaty of Yandabo terms and the years are asked in Prelims
- Mains theme Trade and rival powers as causes of expansion
- Link to freedom struggle Burma’s separation from India in 1937 is also asked
What Came Next?
The next topic covers Tibet and Afghanistan. Next topic: Anglo-Tibetan and Anglo-Afghan Relations.
Key People and Terms
- Treaty of Yandabo The 1826 treaty ending the First Burma War
- Arakan and Tenasserim The coastal provinces ceded in 1826
- Pegu The province taken in the Second Burma War
- Thibaw The last king of Burma, deposed in 1885
- Ava The Burmese capital approached by the British in 1824-26
- Resident The British representative at the Burmese court under the 1826 treaty
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Three wars: 1824-26, 1852, 1885.
- Treaty of Yandabo, 1826: Rs one crore, Arakan and Tenasserim ceded, Manipur independent.
- Second war: Dalhousie took Pegu.
- Third war: Dufferin and Thibaw; annexation 1885-86.
- Burma independent on 4 January 1948.
Do Not Confuse With
- Arakan and Pegu Arakan: 1826, with Tenasserim; Pegu: 1852
- Lower and upper Burma Lower Burma by 1852; upper Burma by 1885
- Dalhousie and Dufferin Dalhousie: second war; Dufferin: third war
Memory Hook
Yandabo took the coast, Pegu took the trade, Thibaw lost the throne.
Mains Angle
Questions ask why Britain annexed Burma. These points add depth.
- Commercial motives Timber and markets drove the second and third wars
- Great power rivalry French plans were a spur in 1885
- Aftermath Guerrilla resistance and a nationalist movement followed annexation
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Trace the course of the Anglo-Burmese Wars and the reasons for the annexation of Burma.”
How to Answer
- First war Border friction and the Treaty of Yandabo.
- Second war Dalhousie, timber and Pegu.
- Third war Thibaw, France and Dufferin.
- Conclude Mention the later separation from India.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Treaty of Yandabo?
The Treaty of Yandabo ended the First Burma War in 1826. Burma agreed to pay Rs one crore, cede Arakan and Tenasserim, give up claims on Assam, Cachar and Jaintia, recognise Manipur as independent and accept a British Resident at Ava.
Why did the First Anglo-Burmese War start?
Burmese expansion westwards into Arakan and Manipur, and the threat to Assam and the Brahmaputra Valley, caused friction along the ill-defined border. The British forces took Rangoon in May 1824 and came within 72 km of the Burmese capital at Ava.
What happened in the Second Burma War?
The Second Burma War of 1852 resulted from British commercial need and Dalhousie's imperialist policy. The British wanted the timber resources of upper Burma, occupied Pegu, the last coastal province, and then had to overcome intense guerrilla resistance in lower Burma.
Who was Thibaw and why did Dufferin invade?
Thibaw was the Burmese king who succeeded his father Mindon and was hostile to the British. Merchants complained of his treatment, he negotiated with France, Germany and Italy, and he fined a British timber company, so Dufferin ordered the invasion in 1885.
When did Burma become independent?
Burma was annexed into British India after the third war and was separated from India in 1937, under the Government of India Act 1935. The nationalist movement intensified under U Aung San, and Burma became independent on 4 January 1948.
What were the British motives in Burma?
The British were drawn by the forest resources and market of Burma, and by the need to check French ambitions in South-East Asia. These motives led to three wars and the annexation, with border friction as the cause of the first war.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The First Burma War ended with the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826.
Burma ceded Arakan and Tenasserim.
2 Under the Treaty of Yandabo, Burma recognised Manipur as an independent state.
It also paid Rs one crore.
3 The Second Burma War was fought during the time of Lord Curzon.
It was under Lord Dalhousie.
4 Pegu was occupied in the Second Burma War.
It was the only remaining coastal province.
5 Thibaw was the Burmese king at the time of the First Burma War.
He ruled in 1885; the third war.
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