White+Man’s+Burden

The White Man's Burden is a late 19th century poem written by Rudyard Kipling based off of the ideas of Social Darwinism with the perspective that white men were considered superior to all other races making it their duty and burden to bring civilization to the barbaric uncivilized societies of the rest of the world. Specifically refering to American colonization of the Philippines, this poem had a large impact on the European imperial control of Africa as it provided justification for the taking of others' lands and exploitation of native people.

5/19/09 Created by Hannah Hollon and Frances Grimball