Final answer:
Rudyard Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden" is associated with the strategic U.S. imperial expansion in the late 1890s and reflects the contentious notion that it was the duty of white nations to civilize others. It has been interpreted both as an endorsement and a critique of imperialism. The poem emerged alongside U.S. acquisitions post-Spanish-American War and has been emblematic of imperialist sentiment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poem "The White Man's Burden," written by British poet Rudyard Kipling in the late 1890s, addresses the theme of imperialism and is specifically a reaction to the United States' acquisition of overseas territories following the Spanish-American War. Kipling's work was interpreted as both a call to the U.S. to assume the role of colonizer and a justification for imperialism. He suggested that it was the responsibility of white nations to civilize and guide non-white populations, framing it as a burdensome but noble undertaking.
At the time, the poem coincided with significant events such as the U.S. Senate's ratification of the treaty which led to the control of Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Cuba by the United States. Moreover, the racialized idea of the "White Man's burden" underscored the supposed inherent superiority of Western civilization and promoted the spread of Western cultural values and Christianity under the guise of beneficence. However, critical interpretations recognized this ideology as a veil for exploitation and control.
The poem has, therefore, been analyzed from various perspectives, with some considering it a straightforward endorsement of imperialism, while others view it as ironically critical of the imperialistic attitude. Regardless, it has become a symbol of the period's imperialistic ideologies and practices.