“The most important reasons for British intervention in the Asante Wars (1873, 1896, 1900) were economic.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that the most important reasons for British intervention in the Asante Wars were economic. Reasons may predate the timeframe, but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to economic factors such as the British desire to control the goldfields of Asante. As well as gold, Asante produced large quantities of rubber and cocoa, and the British were determined to break its monopoly of the lucrative trade between the coast and the hinterland. Candidates may discuss strategic factors including their support of the Fante, the traditional foe of Asante, or their wish to exclude France and Germany from the region. Candidates may also discuss more specific factors, such as the Asante incursion into British territory in 1873, the refusal of the Asantehene to submit to British protection in 1896, or the Golden Stool incident in 1900. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.