Henry David Thoreau and Civil Disobedience Thoreau: Transcendentalist living during time of abolition movement, Mexican War, and shortly after Indian Removal Thoreau wrote many essays, most famous include “Walden,” describing his life at Walden Pond, and “Civil Disobedience,” an essay discussing what to do when faced with immoral acts of government and the desire to live and honest life. Civil Disobedience: resisting acts of government that are against one’s conscience or morals, or that ultimately contribute to ethically disagreeable acts

“After all, the practical reason why, when the power is once in the hands of the people, a majority are permitted, and for a long period continue, to rule is not because they are most likely to be in the right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority, but because they are physically the strongest…I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. Its is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right.” Here, Thoreau discusses the point that the majority does not always have the best interest of the minorities at heart. Furthermore, the majority cannot be trusted to make the morally correct decision. In a country where the majority rules, or makes the decisions, it is the obligation of the citizen to protest – to refuse to support – any act made my the majority that goes against one’s conscience.

“It is not a man’s duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even to most enormous wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support. If I devote myself to other pursuits and contemplations, I must first see, at least, that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man’s shoulders.” Part of civil disobedience is individual reform, not necessary reform on a larger scale. One must stop contributing to acts that are unjust in any way, shape, or form. This contribution may be something as small as paying a tax or as large as actually going and fighting in a war. No matter what this contribution may be, it should end. In removing one’s support from immoral causes, one should not hide behind another person. Instead, proceed with the utmost confidence in these actions, for following the conscience is the correct way to make choices – it results in moral decisions and an honest existence.

“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 the public tranquility, the 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 to their property and families of disobedience to it. For my own part, I should not like to think that I ever rely on the protection of the State. But, if I deny the authority of the State when it presents its tax bill, it will soon take and waste all my property, and so harass me and my children without end… It costs me less in every sense to incur the penalty of disobedience to the State than it would to obey.” In this quote, Thoreau addresses people’s reluctance to disobey the government according to their conscience for fear of the consequences. He says that, no matter the consequences, one should do what they feel is moral. Thoreau refused to pay a poll tax that supported a government that was committing unjust acts. He spent time in jail for not paying the tax. Thoreau suffered a penalty for doing what he felt was in accordance with his conscience, but suffering that penalty was less punishment than contributing to a cause that violated his principles.

Civil Disobedience and the Civil Rights Movement

Sit-Ins Students would go to a lunch counter and ask to be served. If they were served, they'd move on to the next lunch counter. If they were not, they would not move until they were. If arrested, a new group would take their place. The students would remain nonviolent and respectful. Students in Nashville had some "Do's" and "Don'ts" during sit-ins: Do show yourself friendly on the counter at all times. Do sit straight and always face the counter. Don't strike back, or curse back if attacked. Don't laugh out. Don't hold conversations. Don't block entrances.

Sit-Ins On February 1, 1960, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, David Richmond, and Ezell Blair, Jr., walked into an F.W. Woolworth Company store in Greensboro, North Carolina and went to the lunch counter and asked to be served. Segregation laws stated that African Americans could not be served at the lunch counter. They believed that since they could purchase items in the store they should be able to be served at the counter. They were forced to leave when the store closed without ever being served.

Why are sit-ins an example of civil disobedience? Sit-ins can considered civil disobedience because the students were taking a stand for what they believed in and raising awareness for their cause, without being violent and causing fights to break out. They were acting on their conscious because they felt that the segregation laws were wrong and were against their rights as human beings.

The March on Washington President Kennedy proposed a new civil rights bill. To prove that the bill had widespread support, civil rights activists, united to organize the March on Washington. Crowd of 250,000  Thirty special trains and 2,000 chartered buses  August 28, 1963 Activists heard speeches and songs from numerous activists, artists, and civil rights leaders. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

Why is the March on Washington an example of civil disobedience? The March on Washington is an example of Civil Disobedience because the activists united together and raised awareness for this bill, which they believed was the right thing to do. The march brought the new bill to Congress’s attention and helped it to eventually get passed.

Montgomery Bus Boycott Laws stated that African American men and women had to sit in the back of the bus and give up their seat if asked by a white man or woman. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a young white man. Jo Ann Robinson was kicked off a bus for violating segregation laws. She and the Women’s Political Council organized a one-day, citywide bus boycott. These two women were the inspiration for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Lasted 381 days

Civil Disobedience During The Abolitionist Movement

Underground Railroad One example, and the most obvious example of civil disobedience during the Abolitionist Movement, is the Underground Railroad. During it, many people, most famously Harriet Tubman, helped escaped slaves get to the North so they could be free.

John Brown John Brown, an abolitionist, led a major example of more violent civil disobedience where he and a very large mob attacked a federal armory and arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. The attack was stopped by the militia and many of the people were captur

Henry David Thoreau’s Refusal to pay poll tax In July of 1846 Thoreau refused to pay his poll taxes because he wanted slavery abolished and didn’t want to support a government that supported slavery. Because of this, Thoreau spent one night in jail before a friend paid the tax for him. This action is a major example of civil disobedience during the Abolitionist Movement.

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