What was the "White Man's Burden" in the context of American imperialism?

The "White Man's Burden" refers to the belief that white Americans had a moral responsibility to civilize and uplift non-white people based on notions of racial superiority. This concept emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coinciding with a period when Western powers, including the United States, were expanding their empires. Advocates of this belief felt that it was their duty to bring what they perceived as progress, including education, religion, and governance, to those considered "less civilized." This notion was widely disseminated in literature and political discourse of the time, particularly in the poem by Rudyard Kipling, which encouraged the United States to take on the role of a paternalistic power.

The idea tied closely to imperialist policies as it provided a moral justification for the expansion of American influence overseas, suggesting that it was not only acceptable but noble for Americans to impose their values and systems on other cultures. This mindset played a central role in the United States' involvement in various territories, including the Philippines and Puerto Rico, during the age of imperialism.

While other options touch upon aspects of imperialism, they do not encapsulate the essence of the "White Man's Burden" as effectively. The concept is