Failure of the Asante Uprising

Failure of the Asante Uprising Account for the failure of the Asante to mount a unified struggle against the British during the Yaa Asantewaako The Asante was a state of Ghana occupied by the Akan people. During the 1700s the kingdom expanded under their ruler, Osei Tutu, and his successor, Osai Apoko, to cover most of Ghana, including the coast, which later became known as the Gold Coast because of its gold mines. Their trade in gold and other commodities, including slaves, spread out across the Atlantic.[1] In the 19th century British traders began to take control of the trade routes and coastal regions. Wars and treaties with British over possession of land continued throughout the century. Later in the century the slave trade declined and the Asante had to rely on its sales of Kola nuts to the north. However, the pressures of colonisation, and the British monopoly of the gold mines, proved too much for the state and it lost its independence in 1874.[2] At this time the ruler of Ejisu, a state in the Confederacy, was Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpese. When he died in 1894, his sister Yaa Asantewaa nominated her grandson as ruler. However, in 1896 he was sent into exile with the King of Asante, Prempeh I, and Yaa Asantewaa herself became regent.[3] The Asante people had a legendary throne, known as the Golden Stool, which was believed to contain the spirit of the Asante nation. This throne symbolically represented the nation’s independence, and had never been sat on. In 1900, the British governor-general of the Gold Coast, Sir Frederick Hodgson, demanded that the throne should be brought to him in honour of Queen Victoria, and he should be entitled to sit on it. This demand was insensitive in the light of the people’s reverence of the stool and created a great deal of anger and resentment amongst the Asante people. Yaa Asantewaa reacted by starting the Asante uprising in 1900 which was intended to release the King. This started by an attempted ambush, and was followed by the siege of the British in Kumasi. The Asante only made one attack on the fort, and when a rescue party arrived, 600 men were released, who, despite further attacks on the road from around 1500 warriors, were able to get to the coast with a loss of 40 men.[4] A rescue force of 1000 men was sent out, and although they received heavy attacks from allied tribes, they were able to carry out an assault on Kumasi in July 1900, and relieved the fort within two days. Following this victory for the British, raids took place on regions that supported the uprising and eventually the Asante were completely defeated. Yaa Asantewaa was also exiled, and remained so until her death in 1921.[5] The Asante had the advantage at the beginning of the uprising, and the possibility of the uprising being a success seems at first glimpse to have been very high. However, there are various reasons why they were unable to defeat the British, and present a unified force. Despite the Asante’s courage and cunning, the British also showed extreme bravery and enterprise in the face of horrific conditions, both for those in the siege, and for the relieving troops. The men and women in the garrison had only limited supplies, and after the initial release of the 600 who managed to make their way to the Cape Coast, the remaining garrison only had enough rations to last them for three weeks.[6] Furthermore, the relief expedition, led by Colonel Willcocks, faced enormous problems. They had difficulty in obtaining carriers and food for the journey, and as it was the height of the rainy season, all the roads were in deepest mud and almost impenetrable.[7] Despite these seemingly insurmountable problems, Willcocks’s troop managed to reach Bekwai. From here, he managed to draw much of the enemy away from Kumasi by releasing reports that he was about to attack Kokofu to the east. However, whilst feinting an advance on Kokofu, he suddenly turned west to Kumasi, and after some fighting, reached the fort, just in time to relieve the inhabitants before they surrendered.[8] It is clear, therefore, that the defeat of the Asante uprising was very much due to the courage and cleverness of Willcocks, who was afterwards promoted and received the K.C.M.G. Further reasons for this defeat must lie with the Asante themselves. Despite their show of initial strength, this last act of defiance in the wars with the British had its own weaknesses. The continual wars of the preceding century had decreased the Asante’s power over land around the coast. The territorial war of 1873-74 had also ended in defeat for the Asante, and the kings that ruled their people immediately after this war were either tyrannical or short-lived. Civil war was the outcome, until the election of Prempeh, who at first seemed to bring peace. However, his later refusal to comply with the treaty made earlier, led to his exile, and British governors were put in place at Kumasi.[9] The moral of the Asante must have been low at this point. Many of the chiefs could not reconcile themselves to British rule, but seemed unable to take action. Furthermore, many of the tribes remained loyal to the British, which must have decreased their strength even further. Much of the enemy they were fighting against was made up of Africans – the Hausas – and tribes loyal to the British, which perhaps was also a demoralising factor. With other tribes allying themselves to the British, they were unable to call on so many neighbouring areas – while the British were able to call on continual support, even though this support was long in coming. At the beginning of the rebellion, Yaa Asantewaa had been able to gain the support of some of the Asante nobility, but only after an impassioned and now famous speech she made to members of the government council: Now I see that some of you fear to go forward to fight for our King. If it were in the brave days of Osei Tutu, Okomfo Anokye, and Opoku Ware, chiefs would not sit down to see their king taken away without firing a shot. No European could have dared speak to chiefs of Asante in the way the governor spoke to you this morning. Is it true that the bravery of Asante is no more? I cannot believe it. It cannot be! I must say this: if you the men of Asante will not go forward, then we will. We the women will. I shall call upon my fellow women. We will fight the white men. We will fight till the last of us falls in the battlefields.[10] This speech was made because the government members could not agree on the right action to take. Although she did gather support for the rebellion, it may be that it was not as strong in spirit as its numbers suggest. The rebels were able to muster a force of 40,000, but numbers were not a great advantage in the light of the superior technology of the British ammunition, which included field guns and rapid-fire maxim guns.[11] This gap in technology had grown over the preceding 100 years and severely disadvantaged the Asante, though their use of stockades was an attempt to deal with British superior gunfire.[12] In summarising the reasons why the Asante were unable to defeat the British in this uprising, it can clearly be seen that, despite their numbers and bravery, they were at a considerable disadvantage in military terms, and in support. The years of war had seen a growth of military technology for the British, while the Asante only had defence techniques to counter this. The gradual submission to British rule by neighbouring tribes must also have been a factor, and in the end, the War of the Golden Stool was a final act of defiance which was inevitably doomed to failure. Bibliography Gilbert, M., ‘A History of the Twentieth Century Volume One, 1900-1933’, [online] Available from http://partners.nytimes.com/books/first/g/gilbert-history.html [accessed 28th April 2007] Nugent, P., (1997) ‘A Clash of Empires: Asante and the British’ [online] A review of Edgerton, Robert, The Fall of the Asante Empire: The Hundred Year War For Africas Gold Coast Available from http://www.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=20828873843577#fromnote1 [accessed 28th April 2007] www.1911encyclopedia.org www.bbc.co.uk www.en.wikipedia.org www.viowa.edu 1 [1] www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/4chapter6.shtml [2] www.viowa.edu/~africart/toc/history/giblinstate/html#asante [3] www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaa_Asantewaa [4] ibid /war-of-the-golden-stool [5] wikipedia.org/wiki/war-of-the-golden-stool [6] www.1911encyclopedia.org/Asante [7] ibid [8] ibid [9] www.1911encyclopedia.org/Asante [10] quoted in www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaa_Asantewaa [11] Gilbert, M., ‘A History of the Twentieth Century Volume One, 1900-1933’, [online] [12] Nugent, P., (1997) ‘A Clash of Empires: Asante and the British’,

Comparison of Moses and Odysseus Essay

The stories of heroes have been at the axis of nearly all cultures throughout history. Each different type of religion or culture has their own heroes or legends, each one of them having their differences to go along with the beliefs at hand. On the other hand, each and every hero also has their similarities, which therefore makes them the hero. The setting, events, and characters in each and every story may change, but the characteristics of the hero remain basically the same. Each person is usually made into a hero in a somewhat similar fashion. For example, many heroes begin as imperfect characters, and then begin some sort of quest which leads to them becoming a leader of what they are doing, and then the character goes through a personal transformation into a legendary hero of their people. Therefore, both Odysseus of the Greeks and Moses of the Jewish can both be considered as heroes to their people. In both cases, the person does not decide to be a hero, but they are instead chosen by a greater force, such as a god, to become the one. Both Moses and Odysseus perform three similar tasks. These are for the person to fulfill a destiny handed down to them by a greater power, undertake a journey where great sacrifices are made on his part to overcome difficult obstacles, and finally complete their legacy through the sharing of their stories for the greater good of the people that believe in the hero. Both Moses and Odysseus can be compared in that neither were perfect heroes, they both experienced some sort of quest, and they both experienced personal limitations along with a transformation. The major differences between Odysseus and Moses are mostly relative. They both share practically the same qualities. They are universal heroes who could exist in any culture, context or time. Just like Odysseus and Moses, many heroes are made from the same qualities and have similar stories about how they came to be heroes. As a young man, Moses murdered an Egyptian who was harassing a Jew. A savior who kills someone seems contradictory, but the action served as a metaphor for Moses’ freeing of the Jews from Egypt. Odysseus had a habit of raping, burning and looting villages, which is hardly appropriate conduct for someone who is supposed to bring peace to a civilization. However, his cunning proved useful in both defeating monsters and killing the suitors that had taken over his palace. The reality that each hero was and device of God or the Greek gods was important in both  cultures. Moses was picked by God to be the one who would free the Jews and take them across the desert and into the Promised Land. He spoke directly with God in the burning bush and through various angels. Information was given to Moses from God when instruction was needed. Similarly, Athena visited Odysseus frequently with Zeus’ consent through different disguises to help him along his journey. Though Greek and Hebrew culture varies, their heroes are considerably similar. Both Odysseus and Moses could represent model heroes in any culture at any time. But these universal heroes are not perfect as nobody on Earth is. Many heroes do something of questionable moral action at some point in their early life. As mentioned earlier, Odysseus was constant to raping, burning and pillaging villages, and continually had affairs though his wife Penelope always remained faithful. As also stated earlier, when Moses was young, he killed an Egyptian who was harassing a Jew. But these actions do not abolish they hero, they are instead necessary for the development of his character. Moses spoke directly with the Lord and was given specific instructions to embrace his destiny. He did not choose to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt, but God chose that destiny for him. Faced with many different challenges of his own, Odysseus also received a divine message, but it was from the goddess, Athena. The theme of being chosen by a higher power is a recurring theme that is seen in most hero stories of every culture. No matter when or where these heroes were destined for greatness, they each were a part of a quest or journey where they had to overcome many obstacles, trials, and tribulations. Odysseus’s voyage had to be completed before saving his people, while Moses’ exodus and his people’s salvation were simultaneous. In either case, the journey is vital to the hero in order for him to undergo a personal transformation into the legendary hero they became. Moses fought a Pharaoh, the desert, his own people, and himself during his long journey to the Promised Land. Odysseus also had a long journey home and while on that journey battled Poseidon, the sea, his men, and himself. Not only are the stories of The Odyssey and Exodus the similar, but the heroes, Odysseus and Moses, share many of the same attributes and behaviors. Both,  despite having murderous pasts, were chosen by their God or gods to be the savior of their people. Each had a specific limitation that directly interfered with the completion of their mission. And since they were helped by God or the Greek gods along the way, Moses and Odysseus ultimately had faith that they would be successful, regardless of the obstacles ahead. Their similarities exist on a personal level as well. Both heroes had to make great sacrifices for the good of the whole. They each underwent a personal transformation as a result of the trials they faced. And each learned a lesson that they passed on as a message for their people. The hero’s journey is also determined by how each story originated. The Hebrews passed down Moses and the Exodus orally, in the form of a linear story with a beginning, middle and end. Moses’ linear journey took the Jews out of Egypt, through the desert and to the Promised Land. In contrast, Homer’s poetic writing of the Odyssey is circular in that the ending is a new beginning. It begins and ends in Odysseus’ palace in Ithaca. Like the story, his journey back home is a circular one. In spite of all the divine intervention, Moses and Odysseus both had to overcome a personal limitation in order to become successful in their endeavors. The limitation itself was directly in contrast with their main task at hand. Moses was given the job of spokesman for all Jews, yet had poor public speaking skills. â€Å"O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue (Exodus 4:10).† Odysseus was sent home to save his people from a civil war, but his lust for conquest and adventure took him on many detours and prolonged his eminent return. Both were able to rise above these limitations. Perhaps the most shared attribute these heroes had been their faith that they would make it through the journey and complete their mission. Moses struggled with the Egyptians, the desert, God, his people and himself yet still believed that he would accomplish his goals set for him. Odysseus lost all his men, more than one ship, and continually battled monsters, weather, and captors but still succeeded due to his faith in Athena’s word that he would persevere. The way the hero acts towards outside events only tells half the story but the thoughts in his mind and soul makes up the rest. Odysseus and Moses both had to make sacrifices for the good of their people and both experienced a personal transformation during their quest for significance. The transformation of Moses was found in his lack of public speaking, which held him back from fully becoming a leader of the people. As he confronted the Pharaoh and commanded the Hebrew people, he eventually gained confidence in himself and his ability. Moses went from being a timid servant to an authoritative leader of a nation of God. He was responsible for constructing the ways of their new civilization. Likewise, Odysseus transformed from a restless adventurer to dependable husband and king. Both experienced an epic journey that altered them from within. In conclusion, both Odysseus of the Greeks and Moses of the Hebrews can be compared because they perform three similar tasks: to fulfill a destiny handed down by divine inspiration, undertake a journey where great sacrifices are made on his part to overcome difficult obstacles; like Odysseus traveling home after the Trojan War or Moses Leading his people out of Egypt, and finally, the mission is not complete until the message learned throughout is shared for the greater good of the people whom the hero represents. Neither Odysseus nor Moses was perfect, but they both experienced some sort of quest and overcame personal limitations, which led to their personal transformation into heroes. Because of all the parallels between Odysseus and Moses, there is not much surprise that they both exemplified the same message. Even though the messengers were different, whether it was Athena, a burning bush, or angels sent by God, the message is still the same: listen to and obey the words of one’s God/gods. This is the message they both brought back for their people to live by and led to their legacy as heroes of their culture.

Examples for Essay Topics: No Longer a Mystery

Examples for Essay Topics: No Longer a Mystery How people will act if there is not going to be any rules in any respect. Preferably, it must be something which you're an expert in. When you're picking your topic, remember that it's much simpler to write about something which you presently have interest ineven in case you don't know a great deal about it. On a general perspective, there are a great deal of distinguishing things which require close attention. Examples for Essay Topics Analysis essays are known to be among the hardest to write. An analysis essay is a sort of persuasive essay. Indeed, it's very important to select interesting topics for analysis essay. In open-ended essay assignments, selecting an essay topic gets crucial to the total success of the bit of writing. Whatever college essay topic you select or are assigned, the trick is to compose a great stand-out essay. It's important to select debatable argumentative essay topics since you need opposing points that you could counter to your own points. Writing a superb persuasive essay is not a simple task, however, it's achievable. The thesis will provide you with a guideline on the best way to go about with writing the essay. It's therefore important to cautiously consider different college essay topics. Colleges can tell whenever your essay is only a form essay. In terms of the organization of the last essay, it's advisable to use a 5-paragraph structure. The goal isn't just to inform but to offer personal reflection and philosophies throughout the story-telling also. Remember your essay is about solving problems, thus a solution ought to be a highlight of the essay. If you've got to compose your whole essay in 1 day, do your very best to give yourself breaks so you don't burn out. Application essays about challenges reveal how you respond to difficulty to folks who are rather interested in how you are going to manage the subsequent four years by yourself. The success of a research paper mostly is based on the topic, which is why a number of time is spent searching for the correct research paper topics for college students. If you've ever taken an on-line class, you understand how different it can be from a classic face-to-face course. How to turn in an application for a study abroad program. The Importance of Examples for Essay Top ics The college essay is among the main elements of your college application. It is an intellectual place so try to convince the board that you are the right person for them. A college essay topic may or might not be freely dependent on the student based on the course and the professor. There are several persuasive essay topics to pick from to finish your high school or college assignment. Understanding how to compose a strong argumentative paper will help you advance your very own argumentative thinking. 1 important thing you ought to do when writing your essay is to allow it to be personal. Overall, you can observe that writing a persuasive essay isn't a brain surgery. An argumentative essay is a certain kind of academic writing. So you don't actually need to come across a topic! Since you can see, a lot of the topics listed are new and handle the recent issues happening in the World today. Therefore, the topic ought to be debatable! Picking a topic is a critical issue that partly estimates final success of the job. Sex education is extremely sensitive topic. You will be assigned a topic, or your professor will permit you to select your own. You could possibly be given the topic straight away by your professor, or maybe you be free to decide on the topic yourself. It's possible to select an intriguing topic from any area of science. Sure, with this kind of an enormous selection of topics to select from, picking just one may be challenging. Otherwise, you have to look at a number of the easy compare and contrast essay topics on the many scientific innovations. One particular important and appropriate subject is technology. You may use several examples that can be found on the net at no cost.

New Mexico Wordsearch, Crossword Puzzle, and More