the world, but he is obligated not to participate in such evils. Thoreau argues that each individual is responsible for creating the society they want to live in. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 79,000 What does Henry David Thoreau think of the pyramids in Walden? He quotes Confucius as saying, "Poverty and misery are subjects of shame" in a reasonable government: good leadership cares for its citizens. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.

Laws can change according to the interests of the group in power, a group chosen because it is "physically the strongest." Get access risk-free for 30 days, It is because acts associated with civil disobedience are considered crimes, however, and known by actor and public alike to be punishable, that such acts serve as a protest. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Which brings me to the question you're probably asking yourself, 'if you refuse to pay taxes, won't you go to jail?'

To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. That's where the 'civil' part of 'civil disobedience' comes in. Download a PDF to print or study offline. Civil disobedience has been a major tactic and philosophy of nationalist movements in Africa and India, in the American civil rights movement, and of labour, anti-war, and other social movements in many countries.

Henry David Thoreau wrote the essay Civil Disobedience to show his opposition to slavery and American imperialism.

includes not being a member of an unjust institution (like the government). It criticizes American social institutions and policies, most prominently slavery and the Mexican-American War.

It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. Identify at least 2 famous historical figures who were influenced by Thoreau's writing. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Henry David Thoreau's essay Civil Disobedience, published in 1849, has influenced civil rights leaders from President John F. Kennedy to Gandhi to Martin Luther King, Jr. By advocating that citizens are obligated to actively (but not violently) oppose governmental rules that they believe to be unjust, Thoreau was asserting his faith in the power of the individual, a central notion to transcendentalism. If I have unjustly wrested a plank from a drowning man, I must restore it to him though I drown myself. Though Thoreau begins the essay expressing his serious displeasure with the American government, he wasn't advocating for true anarchy. Dr. Michael Frank Explores Learning, Research and Neuroscience with Study.com, Bringing Open Education to Community Colleges: Dr. Judy Baker Introduces the Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources, Higher Education and the Green Movement: Study.com Speaks With Dr. Max Boykoff, Open Education Week: The Open Policy Solution, Dr. Angelia Paschal of Mississippi University for Women Speaks to Study.com, Fighting for the Dead: Study.com Interviews Award-Winning History Professor Dr. Peter Wood, Raising Autism Awareness: Professor Temple Grandin, Art Exhibit Sees Afghanistan Occupation in a New Light, Social Media in the College Classroom: Professor David McDonald's Innovative Use of Text Messaging, Dr. Bakary Diallo of the African Virtual University on Improving Education Accessibility in Africa, Best Online Project Management Bachelor's Degrees, Top School in Raleigh, NC, for a Marketing Degree, Top Educational Leadership Degree Programs in Albuquerque, NM, Admissions Counselor Job Description Duties and Requirements, Masters in Machine Learning Programs Universities, How to Become a Certified Midwife Education and Career Roadmap, Colonial and Early National Period in Literature, Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience: Summary and Analysis, Writing Review for Teachers: Study Guide & Help, CLEP Analyzing & Interpreting Literature: Study Guide & Test Prep, 9th Grade English: Homework Help Resource, 12th Grade English: Homeschool Curriculum, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life Summary, Witchcraft, Oracles, and Magic Among the Azande Summary, The Prince by Machiavelli: Quotes & Explanations, Quiz & Worksheet - The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Quiz & Worksheet - The Importance of Being Earnest: Characters, Quiz & Worksheet - Hard Times by Charles Dickens, Quiz & Worksheet - Girl by Jamaica Kincaid, Quiz & Worksheet - Purple Hibiscus Synopsis, 9th Grade English - Prose: Help and Review, American Novels for 9th Grade: Help and Review, American Short Stories for 9th Grade: Help and Review, Ancient Literature for 9th Grade: Help and Review, CPA Subtest III - Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR): Study Guide & Practice, ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner: Study Guide & Practice, AACN Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist - Adult Gerontology (ACCNS-AG): Study Guide & Practice, Selecting & Evaluating Academic Sources for Research Papers, Parts of Speech & Identifying Usage Errors in Sentences, Preparing & Delivering Oral Presentations, College Student's Guide for Minimizing & Managing School Stress During COVID-19, Top 50 K-12 School Districts for Teachers in Massachusetts, Education Trends During Coronavirus: Private, Community and Virtual Learning Pods, Pros and Cons for Schools Reopening Amid Coronavirus Concerns, High School Student's Guide for Minimizing & Managing School Stress During COVID-19, Praxis Tests & COVID-19: Online Testing, Scheduling & Implications, What is Social Conservatism? | 11

Select a subject to preview related courses: Despite all of this, Thoreau states in Civil Disobedience that he doesn't believe that the American government was all bad, he just thought that he, and other Americans, should demand better. Visit BN.com to buy new and used textbooks, and check out our award-winning NOOK tablets and eReaders. | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} Emily Dickinson: Poems and Poetry Analysis, Quiz & Worksheet - Thoreau's Civil Disobedience, Over 79,000 lessons in all major subjects, {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, Ralph Waldo Emerson's Society and Solitude: Summary & Themes, Walt Whitman: Transcendental and Realist Poet, Biological and Biomedical According to Thoreau, an ideal governing body honors individual desires and needs, promotes justice above all, and respects dissenting voices. Activists themselves are divided in interpreting civil disobedience either as a total philosophy of social change or as merely a tactic to be employed when the movement lacks other means. 4 CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE government which they have. Visit the English 102: American Literature page to learn more. Rosa Parks? Civil Disobedience argued that what a person believed to be right is more important than what was mandated by the government. Omissions? But, more generally, he ideologically dissociated himself from the government, "washing Course Hero. Have study documents to share about Civil Disobedience? Civil Disobedience. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Rather than wait for reformers or elected representatives to make changes, citizens should make changes themselves. This was partly motivated by Thoreau's dislike of slavery and the American government's support of it. Legislators are neither perfect nor considerate of their constituents' best interests.

Study.com has thousands of articles about every When a government is unjust, people should Stuck? Thoreau, this form of protest was preferable to advocating for reform from He believed that simply voting for or against something wasn't enough, withdrawing financial support in the form of not paying taxes would send a stronger message.

In addition to being an essayist, Thoreau was also a strong abolitionist; it's not surprising that each of his major themes -- harmful control over others, the need for revolution, the value of the individual -- advance the abolition of the slave trade. Course Hero. Updates? Thoreau argued that people owed it to themselves and their fellow man not to blindly follow their government if they believe their rules and laws are unjust. Corrections?

and social commentary throughout. Answered Civil Disobedience Movement started with which main demand ... See answer RAGHAVAGGARWAL is waiting for your help. Civil disobedience has a history of overcoming oppression and unpopular policies where all other met… In actual fact, it is the conflict with the authority that gives the protest its power and urgency, … Given a choice, anarchy is to be preferred to despotism. Civil disobedience is a symbolic or ritualistic violation of the law rather than a rejection of the system as a whole. Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. An error occurred trying to load this video.

The State is described as a "machine" that values "expediency" or efficiency above all. He adds that the individual is a "higher and more independent power" and that the only possible worthwhile government is one that "treats him accordingly.". Henry David Thoreau: "Civil Disobedience" BACK; NEXT ; Thoreau had some serious problems with the way the United States was run. Otherwise, he is not sure why individuals have consciences if not to guide them in difficult situations. Already registered? Thoreau's Civil Disobedience espouses the need to prioritize one's conscience over the dictates of laws.

Earlham College: Civil Disobedience: Peter Suber About the Author Michael Stratford is a National Board-certified and Single Subject Credentialed teacher with a Master of Science in educational rehabilitation (University of Montana, 1995). Wars lead soldiers to their deaths, make men act against their own consciences, and cripple the invading nation. The essay explains how Thoreau believes a model citizen must act. Accessed October 24, 2020. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Civil-Disobedience/. Thoreau encouraged Americans to avoid supporting immoral government spending (particularly in relation to slavery and the Mexican-American War) by not paying taxes, even if that action landed them in jail. the law dictated by the majority. He says of his relationship to the state, 'I simply wish to refuse allegiance to the State, to withdraw and stand aloof from it effectually.' Thoreau claims that the government imposes itself on individuals who are attempting to accomplish things.

He knows that it is impractical to ask for no government, and so he asks instead for a “better government,” one in which the majority does not rule but, rather, each person’s conscience rules each person. Log in here for access. He believes that, when we are ready, we will govern ourselves and require no formal government at all. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... U.S. Marine Corps veteran Evelyn Thomas being removed by police from a fence near the White House to which she and others had handcuffed themselves to protest the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy regarding the service of homosexuals in the U.S. military, Washington, D.C., 2010. How would this ideal government make laws? On a pragmatic level, the efficacy of civil disobedience hinges on the adherence of the opposition to a certain morality to which an appeal can ultimately be made. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. He questions the effectiveness of elected representatives who make decisions on behalf of the people. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau.

His essay has influenced many prominent civil rights activists, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Discuss how Thoreau's transcendentalist beliefs influenced. Is it not possible to take a step further towards recognizing and organizing the rights of man?