1.Determine what Kipling means by "the White Man's Burden."

What Kipling means by the “White Man’s Burden” is the weak or the less strong. The “White Man’s Burden” are those who are thought to be of lesser value or less advanced . I believe he is referring to other civilizations of lower status. It is the “White Man’s Burden” that they exist.

2. Does Kipling justify imperialism? How so?

Kipling does justify imperialism. His poem states

Take up the White Man's burden-
The savage wars of peace-
Fill full the mouth of Famine,
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
(The end for others sought)
Watch sloth and heathen folly
Bring all your hope to nought.

Take up the White Man's burden-
Ye dare not stoop to less-
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloke your weariness.
By all ye will or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent sullen peoples
Shall weigh your God and you.
Take up the White Man's burden!
Have done with childish days-
The lightly-proffered laurel,
The easy ungrudged praise:
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years,
Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers.
Both stanzas seem to justify imperialism as the right thing to do as it is weighed in both your character and your religion. I think he is making the connection of “only the strong survive”; natural selection. With out imperialism the world is bid famine and sickness.

3. Why might such a justification might be so appealing?

Such a justification might be so appealing in the fact that we feel it right. We feel it is right to improve the world and rid it of lesser quality. We feel that it in our power to make change. It is simply natural that and everyone has that side to them that begs to dominate over another; to fulfill ones needs. Everyone wants the sense of control because with out control one has the sense of fear, the unknown, unease. Like carrying a large burden.