AMERICAN IMPERIALISM AND RACE A BURDEN

IMPERIALISM 1900

HISTORICAL CONTEXT 1890s United States expansion continues- gain Alaska and Hawaii Mind frame of the time- whites are sent by god to protect the world and establish democracy (Manifest Destiny, Spanish- American war) Foreign affairs Social Darwinism Period of Jingoism

Henry Du Pre Labouchere ( ) Raised in England Politician and writer Radical-attacked socially privileged order (same one that he came from) Against: Fraud Injustice Rudyard Kipling ( ) Born and resided in Bombay (Mumbai), India during British control of India English writer Supported imperialism BURDEN The Brown Man’s Burden February 25, 1899 The White Man’s Burden February 1899

Appealing to Americans to join imperialism Duty of white man Saving the “half-devil and half-child” people by: Providing food Protecting against sickness Civilizing them Creating peace Not have an iron fist king THE WHITE MAN’S BURDEN Overview of poem- Kipling’s message

THE BROWN MAN’S BURDEN Mocking “White Man’s Burden” Brown man’s loss white man’s gain False claim by white man of “helping” brown man Claim of philanthropy Abuse Little money/value from labor Freedom only for white man More blood spilled Racism White’s economic gain

QUESTIONS??? NB RESPONSE What lessons can be learned from America’s Age of Imperialism? What actions do you believe America should take going forward (post Spanish-American war)? What should be America’s foreign policy in 2011?