Question

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.¹
According to the poem, how did the imperial powers justify the colonization
of African and Asian nations?
A. The imperial powers believed that they were spreading a superior
culture in Africa and Asia.
OB. The imperial powers believed that they would eventually be able to
bring democracy to Africa and Asia.

Answer 1

The imperial powers justified colonization by spreading a superior culture and assuming a responsibility to civilize and uplift the native people.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Imperial powers in this poem justified the colonization of African and Asian nations by believing that they were spreading a superior culture in those regions. They considered it their duty or burden to civilize and educate the native people by imposing their own values, language, and way of life. The phrase 'take up the White Man's burden' implies a sense of responsibility to uplift the 'barbaric' civilizations. The poem presents an imperialistic perspective that justifies colonization through a paternalistic ideology.

Learn more about Imperialism and colonization