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How to Stop a War... Burmese War
| State |
Entry |
Exit |
Combat Forces |
Population |
Losses |
| Britain |
1852 |
1853 |
50000 |
28000000 |
15000 |
| Burma |
1852 |
1853 |
50000 |
13000000 |
12000 |
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The Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852) was provoked by the British, who wanted access to the teak forests in and around Pegu and also wanted to secure the gap in their coastline stretching from Calcutta to Singapore; it resulted in the British annexation of Pegu province, which they renamed Lower Burma. As the British became increasingly interested in the legendary trade with China through its back door--as well as in the teak, oil, and rubies of northern Myanmar--they waited for a suitable pretext to attack.
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After 25 years of peace, the British Indian government sent a naval officer, Commodore Lambert, to Rangoon to investigate British merchants' complaints of extortion. When Lambert seized a ship that belonged to the Burmese king, another war began.
By July 1852 the British had captured the ports of Lower Burma and had begun a march on the capital. Slowly but steadily the British-Indian forces occupied the central teak forests of Burma. The new king Mindon Min (ruled 1853-78) requested the dispersal of British forces. The British were unreceptive but were hesitant to advance farther northward; with both sides at an impasse, the fighting simply ceased. The British now occupied all Lower Burma but without formal recognition of the Burmese court.
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