Social Darwinism

Imperialism How to define? Imperialism is the policy by a stronger nation to attempt to create an empire by dominating weaker nations economically, politically, culturally, or militarily. Similar to colonialism Influence of the Industrial Revolution

The Role of Ideology The desire to “civilize” non-Europeans The belief in social Darwinism Racism “The White Man’s Burden”

The Social-Darwin Differences Western (White Europeans) Inventive Scientific Rational Self-Controlled Democratic Civilized Economically Progressive Moral Christian Independent Eastern (Non-whites, Non-European) Ignorant Irrational Superstitious Lazy Childlike Savage Dependent

“White Man’s Burden”

political cartoon from The Journal, Detroit, 1923 about “The White Man’s Burden”

Life magazine, 1899

The Role of Ideology

What type of source is this? Who might this man be? How can you tell? Where does he appear to be?

What does the ad claim is “the first step towards lightening The White Man’s Burden”? What does this imply?

What does “dark corners” refer to? What does this choice of phrase reveal about attitudes of people in Western nations toward non- whites?

Describe the illustrations in the corners of the picture. What might each of these symbolize?

Why do you think Pears chose this image for their ad? Why might consumers have found this ad appealing?

“THE WHITE MAN’S BURDEN” BY RUDYARD KIPLING (1899)

1 Take up the White Man's burden— Send forth the best ye breed-- Go bind your sons to exile To serve your captives' need; To wait in heavy harness, On fluttered folk and wild-- Your new-caught, sullen peoples, Half-devil and half-child.

2 Take up the White Man's burden-- In patience to abide, To veil the threat of terror And check the show of pride; By open speech and simple, An hundred times made plain To seek another's profit, And work another's gain.

3 Take up the White Man's burden-- The savage wars of peace-- Fill full the mouth of Famine And bid the sickness cease; And when your goal is nearest The end for others sought, Watch sloth and heathen Folly Bring all your hopes to nought.

4 Take up the White Man's burden-- No tawdry rule of kings, But toil of serf and sweeper-- The tale of common things. The ports ye shall not enter, The roads ye shall not tread, Go mark them with your living, And mark them with your dead.

5 Take up the White Man's burden-- And reap his old reward: The blame of those ye better, The hate of those ye guard-- The cry of hosts ye humour (Ah, slowly!) toward the light:-- "Why brought he us from bondage, Our loved Egyptian night?"

6 Take up the White Man's burden-- Ye dare not stoop to less-- Nor call too loud on Freedom To cloke your weariness; By all ye cry or whisper, By all ye leave or do, The silent, sullen peoples Shall weigh your gods and you.

7 Take up the White Man's burden-- Have done with childish days-- The lightly proferred laurel, The easy, ungrudged praise. Comes now, to search your manhood Through all the thankless years Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom, The judgment of your peers!

How do you interpret Kipling’s poem? Is he being Eurocentric and asserting that European culture has a duty to bring civilization to the rest of the world? Is he using satire against notions of imperialism and making fun of these ideas of the superiority of the white race? Here are some ways political cartoons and even advertisements depicted the so called “white man’s burden.”