The Start of Civil Disobedience
A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight. If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose. If a thousand men were not to pay their tax-bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood. This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible. If the tax-gatherer, or any other public officer, asks me, as one has done, "But what shall I do?" my answer is, "If you really wish to do anything, resign your office." When the subject has refused allegiance, and the officer has resigned his office, then the revolution is accomplished.
--Henry David Thoreau, On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
The most notable American nature author, Henry David Thoreau, brought the concept of Civil Disobedience into the world during the nineteenth century. Citizens have used Civil Disobedience to rebel against unfair laws during revolutions. In 1849 Thoreau published “Resistance to Civil Government,” later renamed “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” explaining why one should use Civil Disobedience. Thoreau’s essay has influenced the acts of Civil Disobedience on many political intellectuals, such as Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Junior.
Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817 in the small town of Concord, Massachusetts, where he remained the majority of his life. Thoreau received an exemplary education from Harvard University, graduating in 1837. After graduating, Thoreau contemplated on what to do with his life, and ultimately decided he wanted to become a writer because of his love for nature and individualist ideas. In 1841, after struggling for many years to make it as a writer, Thoreau moved in with beloved mentor and friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson owned land just outside of Concord at Walden Pond, where he let Thoreau build a cabin and live there for almost two years. While living there Thoreau wrote majority of his book “Walden,” published in 1854. The book includes details from Thoreau’s two years of living at Walden Pond. Thoreau spent the greater part of his life dedicated to writing, from writing poetry to books to essays and much more. Thoreau accomplished writing many essays throughout his career, his most famous being “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.”
First printed in 1849, “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” describes Thoreau’s beliefs on rebelling against the regulations of the federal government. Thoreau protested against public issues in the United States. Thoreau strongly opposed the Mexican-American war, lasting from 1846 to 1848. In July of 1846, Thoreau spent one night in jail in his hometown of Concord after being arrested for refusing to pay the poll tax. The poll tax was to assist funding the war between Mexico and America. Thoreau claimed he would rather be honest and not support the government’s decisions than become less of a man by encouraging something he did not condone. Thoreau had not paid the poll-tax for six years prior to his arresting, and would have stayed in jail until he paid the fine, but without his consent an acquaintance of his paid the fee for him. Thoreau wrote “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” in order to make the society realize that if you believe a law is unjust you have every right to disobey it and protest, if you are able to accept the consequences.
Gandhi used Thoreau’s concept of Civil Disobedience to lead non-violent protest against the British Empire during the fight for India’s independence in South Africa and India. During the Civil Rights movement, beginning in 1954, Martin Luther King Junior was also motivated to use Civil Disobedience in his fight for equal rights for African Americans. King advocated peaceful rebellions, such as boycotts and sit-ins. Both Gandhi and King were greatly successful in their acts of Civil Disobedience. Civil Disobedience has inspired a wide variety of people around the world, from feminist to religious groups. Unfortunately, Thoreau died on May 6, 1862, before his writings were well known, but his ideas soon became popular around the world and they continue to spread each day.
--Henry David Thoreau, On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
The most notable American nature author, Henry David Thoreau, brought the concept of Civil Disobedience into the world during the nineteenth century. Citizens have used Civil Disobedience to rebel against unfair laws during revolutions. In 1849 Thoreau published “Resistance to Civil Government,” later renamed “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” explaining why one should use Civil Disobedience. Thoreau’s essay has influenced the acts of Civil Disobedience on many political intellectuals, such as Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Junior.
Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817 in the small town of Concord, Massachusetts, where he remained the majority of his life. Thoreau received an exemplary education from Harvard University, graduating in 1837. After graduating, Thoreau contemplated on what to do with his life, and ultimately decided he wanted to become a writer because of his love for nature and individualist ideas. In 1841, after struggling for many years to make it as a writer, Thoreau moved in with beloved mentor and friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson owned land just outside of Concord at Walden Pond, where he let Thoreau build a cabin and live there for almost two years. While living there Thoreau wrote majority of his book “Walden,” published in 1854. The book includes details from Thoreau’s two years of living at Walden Pond. Thoreau spent the greater part of his life dedicated to writing, from writing poetry to books to essays and much more. Thoreau accomplished writing many essays throughout his career, his most famous being “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience.”
First printed in 1849, “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” describes Thoreau’s beliefs on rebelling against the regulations of the federal government. Thoreau protested against public issues in the United States. Thoreau strongly opposed the Mexican-American war, lasting from 1846 to 1848. In July of 1846, Thoreau spent one night in jail in his hometown of Concord after being arrested for refusing to pay the poll tax. The poll tax was to assist funding the war between Mexico and America. Thoreau claimed he would rather be honest and not support the government’s decisions than become less of a man by encouraging something he did not condone. Thoreau had not paid the poll-tax for six years prior to his arresting, and would have stayed in jail until he paid the fine, but without his consent an acquaintance of his paid the fee for him. Thoreau wrote “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” in order to make the society realize that if you believe a law is unjust you have every right to disobey it and protest, if you are able to accept the consequences.
Gandhi used Thoreau’s concept of Civil Disobedience to lead non-violent protest against the British Empire during the fight for India’s independence in South Africa and India. During the Civil Rights movement, beginning in 1954, Martin Luther King Junior was also motivated to use Civil Disobedience in his fight for equal rights for African Americans. King advocated peaceful rebellions, such as boycotts and sit-ins. Both Gandhi and King were greatly successful in their acts of Civil Disobedience. Civil Disobedience has inspired a wide variety of people around the world, from feminist to religious groups. Unfortunately, Thoreau died on May 6, 1862, before his writings were well known, but his ideas soon became popular around the world and they continue to spread each day.
Bibliography
"A Force More Powerful - Lesson Plans from Movies and Film - Gandhi, India, Poland, Denmark, Chile, South Africa, Civil Rights Movement." Teach With Movies, Lesson Plans in History, English, Science for High School, Middle School and Elementary. Web. 30 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/force-more-powerful.html>.
Bankston, Carl L. "Thoreau, Henry David." Great Lives from History. Vol. 4. Pasadena, CA:
Salem, 2007. 2274-276. Print.
"Thoreau." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Paula K. Byers. 2nd ed. Vol. 15. Detroit:
Gale Research, 1998. 204-05. Print.
Thoreau, Henry D. "Civil Disobedience." On Civil Disobedience; American Essays, Old and New,. By Robert A. Goldwin. Chicago:
Rand McNally, 1969. 11-31. Print.
"The Thoreau Society: About Henry David Thoreau." Thoreau Society: Established in 1941.
Web. 05 Apr. 2011. <http://www.thoreausociety.org/_news_abouthdt.htm>
<http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/force-more-powerful.html>.
Bankston, Carl L. "Thoreau, Henry David." Great Lives from History. Vol. 4. Pasadena, CA:
Salem, 2007. 2274-276. Print.
"Thoreau." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Paula K. Byers. 2nd ed. Vol. 15. Detroit:
Gale Research, 1998. 204-05. Print.
Thoreau, Henry D. "Civil Disobedience." On Civil Disobedience; American Essays, Old and New,. By Robert A. Goldwin. Chicago:
Rand McNally, 1969. 11-31. Print.
"The Thoreau Society: About Henry David Thoreau." Thoreau Society: Established in 1941.
Web. 05 Apr. 2011. <http://www.thoreausociety.org/_news_abouthdt.htm>
