Question

In the above passage, the phrase 'white man's burden' refers to the?

1) Responsibility of the white race to civilize and rule over other races
2) Heavy burden placed on white men due to their privileged position
3) The struggle faced by white men in maintaining their dominance
4) The moral duty of white men to help and uplift other races

Answer 1

The 'white man's burden' refers to the alleged responsibility of white individuals to civilize and rule over other races, a concept used to justify imperialism and associated with Rudyard Kipling's poem.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrase 'white man's burden' refers to the perceived responsibility that those of European descent (the white race) had in the imperialistic era to civilize and govern other nations, which they considered less developed. This perspective held that it was the moral duty of white men to help and uplift other races, often using paternalistic and racist reasoning to justify imperialism and colonial rule. It's a concept widely associated with the justifications for empire and colonialism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, notably illustrated in Rudyard Kipling's poem 'The White Man's Burden: The United States & The Philippine Islands, 1899.' The correct answer to the question is option (1): Responsibility of the white race to civilize and rule over other races.