Why did the British annex Punjab in 1849?

The correct answer is Control trade routes. The British annexed Punjab in 1849 after the Second Anglo-Sikh War primarily to consolidate their control over the Indian subcontinent. Punjab's strategic location provided access to crucial trade routes, particularly those leading to Central Asia and Afghanistan, which were vital for British imperial interests and security concerns regarding the Russian Empire's expansion.

• Trade with China was a British interest, but not the primary reason for annexing Punjab specifically.
• Create tourism industry and Promote cultural exchange were not motivations for military annexation.