Rudyard Kipling and "The White Man's Burden".

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Rudyard Kipling had an extremely substantial influence on the people's views of the United States' and British Imperialistic philosophies through his writing of "The White Man's Burden." During the late 1800's and early 1900's British Imperialism was on the rise, causing many mixed feelings between politicians and citizens as well. As an offspring of England, the United States began to be following in the footsteps of their mother country despite their animosity, slowly becoming a world power with their new Imperialistic values. Published in 1899, "The White Man's Burden" emerges as one man's outlet of one view of the common person of either country.

In order to understand the base that Rudyard Kipling had to work with to develop his feelings and emotions towards the political style of the age, it is important to recognize his history. He was born in British India in 1865 and was educated in England.

This develops his roots in the British Culture from an early childhood age. After he completed his education, he returned to India in 1882. In the following decade Kipling works as journalist for Civil and Military Gazette, and wrote short stories in his final two years in India, which were published in the collection "The Phantom Rickshaw." Here he began to acquire recognition for his short stories, in India as well as England. It is important to note that his stories were making an effect on England, which will set the stage for his future influential poetry to make its stand.

His fame was compared to that of Charles Dickens and began to turn his literature towards social and political commentaries. His criticism began on his tour of Japan, where he criticized the middle-class and it's eagerness to adopt western values and fashions. His outspoken social...