Effects Of Imperialism And The White Man's Burden

Imperialism was a widely controversial and debated topic in the twentieth century. In the works of Rudyard Kipling, he provides an argument for imperialism by deeming it the “white man’s burden” to send mature people out to help make the world more civilized in a patient, communicative manner. National Life from the Standpoint of Science by Karl Pearson use science to justify imperialism with theme of the weak dying out and the strong surviving. In contrast to Kipling’s work, The Black Man’s Burden shows the negative side effects of imperialism, such as Europeans invading Africa and destroying the African culture. Vladimir Lenin views imperialism as a form of evolution of capitalism that will lead to a society ruled by banks and monopolies. The White Man’s Burden is a poem written by Kipling to inspire the United States to expand. However, …show more content…
“For three centuries the white man seized and enslaved millions of Africans and transported them, with every circumstance of ferocious cruelty, across the sea. (Morel 1903)” Morel’s argument against imperialism revolves around the enslavement and murder of African Americans. He thought that Europeans were taking over Africa by getting people addicted to commodities. This addiction began pushing out African culture and replaced it with European views, main one being religion. Like Lenin’s view, Morel attacked a capitalistic imperialism as it enables expansion, exploitation, and military desire. There was no escape for the African people through physical force. All resistance by the method of rebellion was futile. However, through the power of education, the persons affected can begin to change and resist imperialism. The Black Man’s Burden relies on emotion and history to prove its point against imperialism, while National Life from the Standpoint of Science uses science to justify the means for