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British Held Burma
British colonization followed sixty years of Anglo-Burmese Wars from 1824-1885 with the British annexing the territory in 1886. On January 4, 1948, the Union of Burma became its own independent nation. -
Independence from British - 1948
The union of Burma becomes independent of the British Empire on January 4, 1948. -
Period: to
Military Controlled Government and Socialist Myanmar
Following the Coup, the military led the government via the Burma Socialist Programme Party. Though the government was structured for a representative assembly, the military refused to cede any power until 2011 and finally removed as the most powerful entity in 2015. -
Military coup d'etat - 1962
General Ne Win assumes control of the government. Burmese economy and society are nationalized. -
University Education Law, 1973
This law dispersed the universities in the country under 13 different ministries. It has restricted the development of higher education systems by depriving the institutions of financial autonomy from their ministry. A board of 42 ministers, governors, political appointees, and other political interest groups govern the higher education system marring any local developments or programs. -
Period: to
Regional College System in Place
To disperse college students throughout the country, the government of Burma developed a 2 year regional college system. This system only lasted 4 years before being ended in 1981. -
8888 Uprising
A series of national protests and demonstrations that culminated in August 1988. The protests were started by students in Yangon, but soon spread across all of the nation and all classes of society. Terrible economic conditions resulting from Soviet style controlled economy combined with Buddhist and Traditional beliefs were fundamental in the uprising. Aung San Suu Kyi earned prominence during the demonstrations as a leader of Burmese Democracy leading to her house arrest until 2010. -
Coup d'etat and formation of the SLORC
General Saw Maung lead a Coup d'etat following the 8888 protests creating the the State Law and Order Restoration Council which ruled over Burma/Myanmar until 2011. -
SLORC Declaration No.1
The State Law and Order Restoration Council set four goals for the country:
1. Maintain Law and Order
2. Improve Transportation
3. Improve the Humaninatrian Situation
4. Hold Multi-Party Elections -
Change from Burma to Myanmar
The SLORC changed the country's English name from the "Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma" to the "Union of Myanmar." -
1990 Election
Free elections were held with the National League for Democracy winning 80% (392/492) seats. The military refused to cede power from the State Law and Order Restoration Council. -
Myanmar Education Review Board
A comprehensive review of Myanmar's education system. Criticized the examination system as archaic and encouraging of colonial style elitism. Quality and methods for teaching were also found to be lacking as teachers focused on regurgitating facts rather than functional learning in part due to the emphasis of the examinations. -
SLORC becomes SPDC
The Staet Law and Order Restoration Council was abolished and reconstituted as the State Peace and Development Council made up of eleven senior military officers who had more power than cabinet ministers. -
Saffron Revolution
Protests led by students, activists, and monks that came about because the government's decision to remove fuel subsidies immediately increasing petrol prices by 100% and natural gas, used by public transportation, by 500%. As many as 100,000 protesters demonstrated as part of the movement. Troops were deployed in a government crackdown resulting in 200 civilians being beaten and at least 13 killed. -
Child Soldiers Global Report 2008
The SPDC was named in four consecutive reports for violating international standards by recruiting soldiers as young as 10 into the army. -
Burmese Constitutional Referendum of 2008
A new constitution focused on the development of a "discipline flourishing democracy" was produced changing the system of government that was last adopted in the 1974 under Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma government. 1/4 of parliamentary seats were reserved for the military. -
First elections held under new Constitution
The military's "Union Solidarity and Development Party" announced they had won 80% of the vote - a statistic heavily disputed by democratic advocacy groups. -
National League of Democracy Forced to Dissolve
NLD boycotts the 2010 election after being forced to dissolve before the elections. New laws required Aung San Suu Kyi to be removed from the party to be eligible. -
2013 Gender Inequality Index
Ranked Myanmar 83 out of 187 in regards to gender inequalities. -
Period: to
Rohingya crisis and genocide
The Rohingya population in the north-west Rakhine state came under brutal attacks by the Myanmar military. Mass killings, village burnings, and sexual violence have taken place with at least 10,000 killed. Members of the United Nations have called for leaders of them military to be charged with crimes against humanity for their actions.
