What Is Thoreau's Response To Civil Disobedience

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Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society by effectively raising awareness to an issue in a non-violent way. Violent resistance is counter-active and inflicts more harm than good. It is ironic that people whom want social progression would regress to acts of violence. Peaceful resistance to laws is essential to achieving the desired outcome. Henry David Thoreau’s essay titled Civil Disobedience describes his reasons for resisting the law in order to protest an unjust practice. Thoreau refused to pay his taxes to express his vehement opposition to slavery. In the essay he argues that what a person believes to be right is more important than what is mandated by the government. “Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resigns his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward.” His peaceful resistance to the law influenced many other civil rights activists …show more content…
In 1872, Susan B. Anthony was arrested for attempting to vote. She walked up to the polls with pride and was incarcerated for participating in an act that is now a civic duty and basic right of all American citizens. In the early 1900s, Alice Paul and other suffragists picketed president Wilson and marched on Washington to gain support and awareness for votes for women. Alice Paul and a number of her followers were arrested for “obstruction of justice” and thrown in a prison camp. In the camp, they continued to peacefully protest by refusing to eat, and were even still force-fed by the prison guards. However, they were eventually released from prison, and in 1920 women were finally granted the right to vote with the 19th amendment. It was ultimately the resistance to the laws by peaceful suffragists that gave them their long sought-after

Henry David Thoreau's Accomplishments

however his sole aim was in observation of nature. His essays, books and journal entries show his experiences in nature. They also give us philosophical and practical approaches on many subjects, including human nature towards nature and life. Thoreau’s achievements have influenced world renown philosophers and leaders including, Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. Combining several different philosophies including Greek and Asian, his literature and actions cause to reflect upon…

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The Role Of Transcendentalism In Henry David Thoreau's Walden

My topic for this project was Thoreau and his novel Walden. I had previously read Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience,” and had an understanding of him as a person, Walden was brand new to me. It did not surprise me that Thoreau found spiritual meanings behind ant battles and sought out religion from the perspective of a loon. However, his role within the Transcendentalist movement in America surprised me. I had no idea that he was that involved within that particular movement. As my group spent a vast…

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Comparing Thoreau's Letter Of Civil Disobedience And Martin Luther King

Thoreau’s letter of civil disobedience and Martin Luther King’s letter from jail were on some aspects two different things and looked to serve two different purposes when you look at the letters themselves and the stories or backgrounds behind each of them. An example being that Thoreau’s letter seems more geared towards trying to put down or frown upon the government in his writings as many times throughout his writing this is illustrated and reinforced. You can find many examples all throughout…

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Kreon And Polyneikes In Sophocles Antigone

to incite rebellion or undermine the city's authority. Instead, her disobedience stems from a desire to honor her familial obligations, but this remained unknown to Kreon. To truly understand Antigone’s logic, Antigone should have reasoned with Kreon before disobeying him, and he should have listened to her and the people of Thebes, for “it is not a city if one man owns it” (Sophocles 815). While Antigone's act of civil disobedience roots in her commitment to her familial duty, the tragic consequences…

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Civil Rights Movement And The American Revolution

right and wrong. But what happens when “right” and “wrong” do not mean the same thing to everyone? Since the inception of our country, there have been many systems of order that have proved not to guarantee justice, and most importantly, freedom for all of its citizens. Through movements, protests, and increased awareness, these systems have been changed or removed completely to get to where we are now. These reforms all have one thing in common: they started with disobedience. Historic examples like…

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Effects Of Democracy In Antigone

EPICENTER OF THE EARTHQUAKE: A PAPER ON THE EFFECTS OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ON CITIZEN-STATE RELATIONSHIP IN SOPHOCLES’ ANTIGONE BY OKOYE GOSIFE DONALD FOR HISTORY 100: CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE FROM ANCIENT GREECE TO MODERN AFRICA SUBMITTED ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH, 2013 PLEDGED: Democracy is defined as “That form of government in which the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the whole body of free citizens directly or indirectly through a system of representation.” (Black's…

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Essay On Civil Disobedience

Wintermantel 1 Clayton Wintermantel Mrs. ButellHuntoon Composition ll 5 March 2015 In his essay “Civil Disobedience,” it is clear to see how Henry Thoreau expresses his disapproval for the United States government. His multiple rhetorical appeals such as logos, pathos and ethos invoke the reader to side by focusing his ideas around our democratic government. The three main ideas that Thoreau relates to are the idea as government as an expedient, the government will not enterpr…

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Critical Thinking, Reading, And Writing

teaches you the “what” of an issue, but also helps you think about and respond intelligently to the relative strength of the writer’s opinions, ideas, and theories. Critical thinking, reading, and writing enables you to distinguish between informed ideas and pure speculation, rational arguments and emotional ones, and organized essays and structurally deficient ones. Active reading means learning to annotate, to reflect on what you read, and develop personal responses in order to prepare yourself for writing topics…

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