Thoreau's View Of Civil Disobedience

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Since the dawn of civilization, human beings have been questioning the honesty of the establishments under which they are governed. Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience is a prime example of this mindset. In his dissertation, Thoreau expresses his disdain for what the American government has become during his time, as well his disbelief at the complacency of the populace in the face of such unbridled injustice. Through his speculations on the people themselves, the prevalence of morality in society, and the duty of mankind to resist corrupt behavior, Thoreau develops his view that the best government is one which governs least. Thoreau initially makes his view of the role of government clear by explaining that the power of society should …show more content…
He believes that the populace knows what is right and wrong, but has surrendered its collective conscience for the sake of security. He writes, “When I converse with the freest of my neighbors, I perceive that, whatever they may say about the magnitude and seriousness of the question, and their regard for public tranquility, long and the short of the matter is, that they cannot spare the protection of the existing government, and they dread the consequences to their property and families of disobedience to it” (Part 2, Paragraph 11). This excerpt reveals that the citizens are aware that disobedience may be the solution, but they fear the consequences that will result from taking action. Thoreau condemns this behavior, explaining that action is the only way to assert the majority’s will over the government. He explains that the knowledge of right and wrong is rooted within everyone , and that the system’s design has forced many to abandon their morality for the sake of conformity. Simply voting and hoping that change will come about is not enough, in his opinion; instead, the people must take charge and make a tangible stand against what they know is unjust treatment. Only in this way will the government be reduced to its proper place as a servant of the people, rather than the …show more content…
He states, “I think we should be men first, and subjects afterward” (Part 1, Paragraph 4), meaning that people’s duty to their conscience takes precedence over their obligation to follow the law. Thoreau acknowledges the fact that a respect for the law is inherent in many, but that this can become a hindrance when the law is developed from unjust foundations. When this occurs, he writes, the citizens have a duty to their country to overthrow the existing system and reestablish a better one. In Thoreau’s mind, a better government would be one that does not exert any sort of tyranny whatsoever. It should simply exist to serve the people, not to govern their every action as if it is dealing with a herd of sheep.
Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience sheds a new light on the role of the government in America. According to Thoreau, the role of the people, the prevalence of morality in society, and the duty of mankind to resist corrupt authorities all find their root in the fact that the best government is one which governs least. Thoreau reminds the people of his time that they are the true foundation of the nation, and that the government should exist simply to reflect their collective will as American
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