White Man's Burden

The White Man’s Burden

Imperialism was the process whereby the more dominant politico-economic interests of one nation expropriate for their own enrichment the land, labor, raw materials, and markets of another lesser people. Imperialism has been forever apart of history and can be depicted in Rudyard Kipling’s poem, The White Man’s Burden. Kipling describe’s Britain’s imperialistic actions as a result of several reasons such as economic greed, moral obligation, and prestige.
In the poem, Kipling writes, “To seek another’s profit and work another’s gain”. This strive for money and economic prosperity has forever been the reason for imperialistic actions. Africa was tremendously rich in natural resources, which could be brought to Europe and turned into manufactured goods. Europeans also needed markets for their manufactured goods. These goods could be sold in Africa for large profits.
The second reason that nations believed imperialism to be necessary was because of moral obligation. Kipling says, “The savage wars of peace—Fill full the mouth of Famine And bid the sickness cease.” He is saying feed the hungry and give them medical help. Some argue that the reason for imperialism is the moral obligation as humans that we give these third world countries help and westernize them so that they do have a better life as we do. There is another argument that these tribes and underdeveloped civilizations would just like to be left alone but the fact that they are humans and we need to help our fellow man has forever been apart of the imperialistic argument.
The last reason is for a nations own prestige and superiority over other nations. Often a European nation would take over territory in Africa simply to prevent another European country from taking it.   This “race” led to European nations on a hunt to claim different parts of Africa. The French believed it to be highly beneficial to take over Egypt and cement French power as well as open a faster route to...