The first Anglo Burmese war formally breaks out on March 5, 1824, following border clashes in Arakan.

The British reason for the war is, in addition to expanding British Bengal's sphere of influence, the desire for new markets for British manufacturing.

The British are also anxious to deny the French the use of Burmese harbors and concerned about French influence at the Court of Ava, as the kingdom is still known to them.

British Ambassador Michael Symes's mission has been equipped to gain as much knowledge as possible of the country for future British plans, whereas previous envoys had been concerned principally with trade concessions.

Anglo–French rivalry had already played a role during Alaungpaya's endeavors to unify the kingdom.

The Burmese in these wars are advancing into smaller states not ruled by the British or the subject of expansionary goals by the British before the war began, and the British will be not so much preoccupied by the refugee problem initially as by the threat posed by the French, until further incidents force their hand.