Paternalism in the Age of Imperialism: Lesson and Primary Source Activity

This lesson teaches students the concept of Paternalism, as it was a commonly held belief and motivator during the Age of Imperialism in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Students will first learn the concept through a short, focused PowerPoint slide set. They will analyze two visual sources (a political cartoon, and a newspaper advertisement) at the end of the presentation. Then, students will read Rudyard Kipling’s poem The White Man’s Burden: The United States and the Philippine Islands. Students will analyze the poem using the Primary Source Ninja strategy pioneered by History Made Fresh. This lesson is classroom tested and the slideshow is fully customizable.