colony · Mainland Southeast Asia

British Burma

1824 CE – 1948 CE · capital Rangoon

Burma under British rule, built up through three wars from 1824 and governed as part of British India until 1937, then as a separate colony.

Origins

Britain took Arakan and Tenasserim after the First Anglo-Burmese War, settled by the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826. The Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 added Lower Burma with Rangoon. In 1885 to 1886 Britain annexed the rest of the Konbaung dynasty's kingdom after the Third Anglo-Burmese War.

Rule and society

Burma was governed as a province of British India, with Rangoon as its capital. The Irrawaddy delta was cleared for rice, making Burma the world's largest rice exporter, worked by Burman migrants and financed by Indian Chettiar moneylenders. Teak, oil and rubies were exploited. Buddhist associations and students led nationalist protests, and the Saya San rebellion of 1930 to 1932 was suppressed.

Decline and legacy

Burma was separated from India in 1937. Japan occupied it from 1942, creating the State of Burma, but Britain returned in 1945. Negotiations with Aung San's Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League led to independence on 4 January 1948 as the Union of Burma.

Lineage

Konbaung dynasty 1752 CE – 1885 CEBritish BurmaMyanmar 1948 CE – present

Connections (13)

British Burma was a colony of British Empire1824 CE – 1948 CE
British Burma was a province of Company rule in India1826 CE – 1858 CE
British Burma was a province of British Raj1858 CE – 1937 CE
Hsipaw State was a protectorate of British Burma1887 CE – 1922 CE
Yawnghwe State was a protectorate of British Burma1887 CE – 1922 CE
Mongnai State was a protectorate of British Burma1887 CE – 1922 CE
Momeik State was a protectorate of British Burma1887 CE – 1922 CE
North Hsenwi was a protectorate of British Burma1888 CE – 1922 CE
South Hsenwi was a protectorate of British Burma1888 CE – 1922 CE
Kengtung State was a protectorate of British Burma1890 CE – 1922 CE
Federated Shan States was part of British Burma1922 CE – 1948 CE
British Burma was conquered by Empire of Japan1942 CE – 1945 CE
State of Burma split from British Burma1943 CE

More states of Mainland Southeast Asia →

Cite this page

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). British Burma. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/british-burma
MLA: “British Burma.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/british-burma. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “British Burma.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/british-burma.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘British Burma’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/british-burma (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻