Ashanti (Crown Colony) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ashanti
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| 1902–1957 | |||||||||
 Flag
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Map of the Gold Coast Colony, the Ashanti Colony, the Northern Territories and the mandate territory of British Togoland
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| Status | Crown Colony | ||||||||
| Capital | Kumasi | ||||||||
| Common languages | English (official) Asante Twi(official) | ||||||||
| Religion | Christianity, Islam, traditional African religion | ||||||||
| Government | Colonial | ||||||||
| Chief Commissioner | |||||||||
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• 1902-1904
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Donald William Stewart | ||||||||
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• 1956-1957
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Arthur Colin Russell | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
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• Colony established
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1 January 1902 | ||||||||
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• Independence as part of the dominion named Ghana
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6 March 1957 | ||||||||
| Currency | Gold Coast ackey British West African pound | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Ghana | ||||||||
Ashanti was a British Crown Colony in West Africa. It existed from 1902 until 1957. In 1957, it became part of the new country called Ghana.
Contents
What Was Ashanti?
Before it became a British colony, Ashanti was a powerful empire. It was known for its rich culture and strong leaders. The Ashanti people lived in what is now modern-day Ghana.
Becoming a British Colony
The British and the Ashanti had many conflicts over the years. British troops occupied the Ashanti capital, Kumasi, in January 1896. This was after several wars.
The Ashanti Uprising
In 1900, a major event called the Ashanti Uprising happened. The Ashanti people fought against British rule. However, the British were able to stop the uprising. They captured Kumasi again.
After the uprising, the British took full control. The traditional king of Ashanti, known as the Asanthene, and his advisors were sent away. This meant Ashanti officially became a British Crown Colony. It was managed by a Chief Commissioner. This change happened on September 26, 1901.
Life as a Colony
Even though Ashanti lost its independence, its traditional way of life stayed mostly the same. The British allowed some of the local systems to continue.
Steps Towards Self-Rule
Over time, the Ashanti people gained more control over their own affairs. In 1935, the Ashanti Confederacy was officially set up. This gave the Ashanti a limited form of self-governance.
Joining Ghana
Ashanti was managed alongside the larger Gold Coast territory. However, it remained a separate colony. This continued until 1957. On March 6, 1957, Ashanti joined with the Gold Coast. Together, they formed the new independent nation of Ghana. This was under the Ghana Independence Act 1957.
