Response to Civil Disobedience, by Henry David Thoreau

A detailed Summary of Response to Civil Disobedience, by Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau's well-publicized essay, "Civil Disobedience," has been a prized piece of literature in the hearts of many famous Americans and other leaders. Great political figures, such as Mohandas K. Gandhi and John F. Kennedy, have used Thoreau's essay calling for the reform of government to their advantage when speaking to their fellow countrymen. Writing in response to the United States annexation of Texas in 1845, Thoreau felt that this economic move by the United States expedited the Civil War, which many Americans disapproved of including he himself. In his essay, Thoreau argues that government should not be in control of the people and that the people should be able to rule themselves freely however they please. In addition, he clearly states and points out that in many instances it is best when individual rights take priority over state authority.

Very often, the best authors, whether it be of a novel or an essay, clearly state their opinions and facts using various literary techniques and devices. From reading other Thoreau works, such as excerpts from Walden and Excursions, I was able to infer that he has his own unique, unmatched writing style. Most ordinary and banal writers start their essays with lon

constables, posse comitatus, etc. In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgement or of the moral sense; but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be manufactured that will serve the purpose as well" (224). He thinks that the soldiers act without conscience, sheepishly following their government's orders and do not think about what they are fighting for. When he talks about the evils of slavery, Thoreau states that "When the majority shall at length vote for the abolition of slavery, it will be because they are indifferent to slavery, or because there is but little slavery left to be abolished by their vote. They will then be the only slaves. Only his vote can hasten the abolition of slavery who asserts his own freedom by his vote" (226). As a dedicated abolitionist, he believes that only individuals hold the power to end slavery. He thinks that you cannot depend on the government to stop slavery because it thinks as a whole, and not as individuals. As he concludes his essay, Thoreau's main point is that individual power should be greater than that of the government.

Many people credit the term "civil disobedience" to great political leaders such as Mohandas K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. But the term "civil disobedience" really refers to the era of great thinkers such as Thomas Jefferson and Henry David Thoreau. All in all, T

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Approximate Word count = 957
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels