Myanmar has a long, vibrant history that would be impossible to detail in this format. Small kingdoms and large dynasties ruled the country for generations, from about 1300's to 1800's. In the 1880's Great Britain invaded Burma and began the Anglo-Burmese Wars. The result of the wars lead to British control of the country in 1886. During this time Burma was seen as part of British India.
In the late 1903's students and other Burmese born citizens protested against British government and leadership. Around this time, Britain separated Burma from India. In 1948, Myanmar officially gained independence and the new country drafted a constitution.
In 1962, a military coup abolished the constitution and established a military junta. This group of military officers ruled the country after seizing power.
In 1990, the country held democratic elections, and the main opposition party won a majority of votes. But, the military government refused to recognize the results. As a result, the junta placed opposition leaders under house arrest.
From the 1990's to 2000s the country fluctuated between military control and attempts at ratifying a democracy. Pro-Democracy protests were common in this era, as were military intimidation and attacks.
In 2021, Myanmar's military detained the state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other elected government members. The military now controls the country and government, and a state of emergency was declared.
Other Notable Issues
The Rohingya are a Muslim minority in Myanmar. The country denies Rohingya citizenship and land access. The military government continues to inflict deadly attacks and intimidation on the Rohingya. Learn more about the Rohingya crisis. Read a report from the United Nations Human Rights Council on the atrocities inflicted on the Rohingya people.
For a more detailed history read this entry at Encyclopedia Britannica
Most refugees from Burma fled to nearby Malaysia and Thailand. However, there are many Burmese refugees and immigrants now living in the United States. Minnesota, Texas, New York, and Indiana are among the states with high populations of Burmese. These refugees fled war and political unrest. Refugees from Myanmar began resettling into the United States in large numbers around 2008. From 2008-2014, approximately 109,000 Burmese refugees arrived in the United States from refugee camps and urban settings in Thailand and Malaysia.
The majority of refugees from Myanmar are from minority ethnic groups such as the Chin, Kachin, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Shan, and Wa.
