1824-1886
Burma annexed to British India during three successive Anglo-Burmese Wars.

1937
Burma separated from India and granted a constitution, providing a limited measure of self-government (ethnic minorities were administered under a separate system until independence).

1942-1945
World War II: The Japanese occupy Burma and grant fictitious independence under a puppet regime led by anti-British nationalists who later turned against the Japanese and aided the Allied forces in retaking the country.

1945
Japanese are defeated; British authority is restored. A coalition of nationalist forces, the Anti-Facist People's Freedom League (AFPFL) emerges as the principle political organisation under the leadership of General Aung San.

27 Jan 1947
Aung San and British Prime Minister Clement Attlee sign an agreement in London promising an interim government for Burma in preparation for independence "within or without the British Commonwealth".

12 Feb 1947
Leaders of Shan Kachin and Chin peoples sign an agreement with Aung San at Panglong, and agree to join the proposed Union of Burma in exchange for some degree of autonomy for their respective areas.

19 Jul 1947
Aung San and six cabinet members assassinated in Rangoon. U Nu becomes new AFPFL leader and chief of the cabinet.

24 Sept 1947
A new constitution is approved, guaranteeing a democratic system and limited federalism. The Shan and Karenni states get the right to secede from the proposed Union of Burma after a ten-year period of independence. A Kachin State with no right to secede is established. There is no provision for a Karen state.

4 Jan 1948
The Union of Burma becomes an independent nation outside of the commonwealth, carrying on the British tradition of parliamentary democracy. U Nu becomes first democratically elected Prime Minister of independent Burma.

2 Mar 1962
Burmese army led by General Ne Win overthrows U Nu's democratic government and seizes power in Rangoon. U Nu and his ministers are jailed along with over thirty ethnic leaders. The new junta, called the Revolutionary Council, is established, investing Ne Win with full executive, legislative and judicial powers. The parliament is destroyed and the constitution suspended.

3 Apr 1962
The "Burmese Way to Socialism" is published and is said to be the guiding ideological basis of the regime.

4 Jul 1962
The Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) is formed by the new Revolutionary Council. All private enterprises are nationalised and a state controlled-centralised economy is introduced. The country is sealed off from the outside world

3 Jan 1974
A new constitution guaranteeing a single-party socialist rule is adopted. Separate Chin, Mon and Arakan states are established, but without the limited autonomy that the ethnic states were guaranteed under the 1947 constitution. Ne Win becomes president of the Socialist Republic of Burma.

2 Mar 1974
On the 12th anniversary of the 1962 coup, the new constitution comes into effect.

29 Jun 1974
The US and Burmese governments sign an agreement committing to "suppressing the illegal cultivation, processing, production, and trafficking of narcotic drugs". The US government agrees to supply Rangoon with Bell 205 helicopters for this purpose.

11 Dec 1974
The government declares martial law.

1986
Inspired by the success of the South Korean people in gaining fair elections, the Burmese people organise protests demanding the democratisation of the country and the end of military rule. Demonstrations are quashed with force, resulting in some 3000 deaths.

1987
Burma's economy having plummeted under military rule, Burma achieves Least Developed Country status at the UN.

1988
A massive democratic movement initiates in Rangoon and spreads throughout the country.

8 August 1988
Marks the last and by far largest rebellion in a series of peaceful student-led demonstrations against the single-party rule. Hundreds of protestors are killed as the army opens fire on demonstrators.

18 Sept 1988
The Burmese army resorts to violence to silence the nationwide uprising. An estimated 10,000 students, Buddhist monks and civilians are killed on the streets by the Burmese Army. Thousands of activists are arrested and tortured during interrogation. The Burmese Army seizes power and forms the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

24 Sept 1988
The National League for Democracy (NLD) is formed. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi becomes the General Secretary of the NLD.

19 July 1989
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is placed under house arrest (and remains so until her release six years later).

27 May 1990
Multi-Party general elections are held. The NLD wins 392 out of 485 seats in Parliament.

27 July 1990
The SLORC issues Order No. 1/90 stating that it will not accept in any way the establishment of a civilian government based on an interim constitution. It adds that the SLORC intends to hold onto power until it convenes a national convention with the authority to pass a new constitution.

18 Dec 1990
With the democratic government in exile, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB) is formed by representatives elected in the 1990 general elections.

10 Dec 1991
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is awarded 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.

3 Mar 1992
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) adopts a resolution on "the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar" by consensus and appoints a UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur to submit a report to the UNGA and the UNCHR. The UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur visits Burma annually before the UNGA convenes in October. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur gets a year extension at each session of the UNCGR since 1993.

9 Jan 1993
First session of SLORC's National Convention is held. Elected representatives of the people constitute only 15.24 % of the delegates. Other delegates are handpicked by the SLORC.

20 Dec 1993
The United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution by consensus requesting the UN Secretary-General to assist in the implementation of the resolution and in the process of national reconciliation.

10 Jul 1995
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest.

29 Nov 1995
The NLD walks out of the National Convention. In a statement issued by the NLD, it states that in its present form the National Convention is not acceptable to the people of Burma and because it is not acceptable to the majority of the people, it is not acceptable to the NLD.

6 May 1996
The NLD calls for all peoples representatives elected in the 1990 general elections to convene in Rangoon from 26-28 May 1996.

21-25 May 1996
256 NLD activists arrested or detained by the SLORC.

7 Jun 1996
The SLORC issues Law No 5/96 banning all acts disturbing public order, making violators subject up to 20 years imprisonment. The law also subjects the writing of a state constitution to the same punishment. 144 of the 262 detained representatives are released.

19 June 1996
Military police prevent 100 of Aung San Suu Kyi's friends from visiting her at home on her 52nd Birthday.