Henry David Thoreau Civil Disobedience

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In his essay "Civil Disobedience," Henry David Thoreau articulated his beliefs on the duty of individuals to resist unjust laws and institutions. Thoreau's ideas emerged against the backdrop of mid-19th century America, marked by many issues like slavery and the Mexican-American War. He argued for nonviolent resistance and individual conscience over blind power to government, asserting that citizens have a moral obligation to challenge laws they perceive as unjust. Thoreau famously refused to pay taxes in protest of the Mexican-American War and was thrown into jail. Today, civil disobedience is shown in diverse forms but retains the core principles Thoreau advocated. Modern instances of civil disobedience often revolve around social justice