The White Man's Burden

1. It is called "The White Man's Burden" because it is a burden on the white people to have to deal with the less educated. Rudyard Kipling means that non-European countries are childlike and are a bothersome to take care of when he says "Your new-caught sullen peoples, Half devil and half child."

2. Kipling justifies imperialism as "Take up the White Man's burden-- Send forth the best ye breed-- Go, bind your sons to exile To serve your captive's need; To wait, in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--" This means that the white people have an obligation to help the less educated people become educated whether they want to or not. He believes it is their moral responsibility to encourage cultural development until they adopt Western ways.

3. This justification might seem so appealing because it makes the white people seem like they are helping the less educated become educated. It seems like everyone would want to become educated... but not everyone feels that way. Therefore, even though the white people think they are helping; the less educated might not feel the same way.

4. Religion was used as a justification over money, capitalism, the greater good, and political strength because their religion was about aiding those less fortunate. By concentrating on religion, it got the people to concentrate more on the people and saving them from the childish behavior they were so used to.