White Man's Burden Imperialism

During the 19th century, many countries were going through industrialization leading to cheaper goods and increased output. Due to this, many European countries needed materials in order to keep up with the pace of industrialization. Materials in these European countries were finite and they eventually had to move to other countries in order to obtain their materials. Colonies were formed in order to obtain more resources. The mother countries relied on the colonies for natural resources in order to maintain the newly made industries. One idea used in order to justify colonization was the “White Man’s Burden”. This idea stated that it was the duty of the “superior” power (being the European countries), to spread their ways of life to the “inferior”

Kipling says that it is the White man’s “burden” to send their men to these weaker countries in order to shape up these “half-devil and half-child” people. One country that was affected by colonization was India. In 1757, the British owned East India Company took power of India and from then on, India became one of Britain’s most important colony. India provided a source of cotton and tea along with an abundance of material materials. In 1857, after a century of smooth ruling, the Sepoy Rebellion happened. The Indian soldiers rebelled against the East India Company because the Muslim and Hindu soldiers who weren’t allowed to eat beef and pork had to bite the caps off their rifle cartridges which were made out of beef and pork fat. This was the first of many rebellions to come. India was able to gain independence through constant resistance and rebellions to further counteract colonization. The lingering effects of colonization in India are problems between India and Pakistan, After the Sepoy Rebellion, many acts of rebellion and resistance happened in

“A Congress consists of from five hundred to one thousand of the political leaders of all parts of India”. By the 20th century, new Indians were on board with the idea of self rule and decolonization from Britain. As Henry Cotton states “There is at the present moment a New India rising before our eyes, a nation in the real sense of actual formation, with common sentiments of interest and patriotism”. It is stated here that India finally has what it takes to become a independent nation without British rule. In 1921, Mahatma Gandhi took leadership of the Indian National Congress. He conducted campaigns of civil disobedience in India such as boycotting British made goods. One of his most famous acts of civil disobedience was the Salt March in 1930. The Salt March took place due to Britain’s monopoly on salt. Britain imposed high taxes on the salt and Gandhi wanted to protest against it. This led to Gandhi walking 241 miles from his base to to a village called Dandi in order to make salt with Britain’s taxes. Many Indians joined along the way and it was the first time many Indians got together in an act of civil disobedience. It was a victory for India as the Gandhi Irwin Pact was signed in