1. What was his position on the Mexican War? Thoreau thinks that the war is dumb. He states that, “hundred thousand merchants and farmers here, who are more interested in commerce and agriculture than they are in humanity.” He is saying that people would rather farm food than fight in a war. 2. Why did he feel this way? He thinks that every single government is to commanding and should let the people do what they want. 3. Who does Thoreau hold responsible for the accomplishments of America? Thoreau thinks the America citizens are the ones that are held responsible for the accomplishments of America. 4. List examples. The America people are the ones that are responsible for the accomplishments because the people are the ones who produce food. Also, the people are the ones who owns and builds different businesses. People build the economy and other important things. …show more content…
Thoreau states that, “no government would be best.” However, as a citizen what does in call for at once? Why? Thoreau is basically telling us that we need to rebel against the bad government. Thoreau does not like the government because he thinks that they do nothing. 6. What role should “majority rule” lay in government? Majority rule plays the role in government when there is a vote and the most people who vote for something it gets passed. 7. If injustice is part of the necessary function of the machine of government, then what should one do before changing it? One should fix the problems, but it would be hard to fix them because they always happen. 8. If the law requires you to uphold an injustice to another, then what should you do? Rebel and not uphold an injustice to another. 9. Why was Thoreau jailed? Thoreau failed to pay a tax and the government gave him a choice to pay the tax or go to jail. He went to jail. 10. Why did he believe he was jailed? He thought he was jailed because he didn’t do what the government said to
By making people ponder on the unjust laws in society Thoreau hopes that it will draw more attention to the matter and convince people to help support the cause. Thoreau utilizes this strategy again to draw people’s attention towards the malfunctioning of the current government. He attended to make people question their attitude towards their government. Thoreau asks “how does it become a man to behave towards this American government today? [He answers], that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it.
In reading Henry David Thoreau, I was halted by the views he shared. Thoreau was a suspicious man that felt there is not a reason to be taxed if person did not agree with usage of funds or need government protection. Thoreau lived in the woods, mostly self sustainable. He came into town to have a shoe mended and found himself confronted by a city official to pay a poll tax. He refused and the sheriff put him in Jail.
Thoreau trusted that in light of the fact that legislatures are normally more unsafe than supportive, they hence can't be defended. Vote based system is not an answer for this, as greater parts basically by point of preference of being dominant parts don't additionally pick up the upside of astuteness and equity. The judgment of a singular's heart is not so much second rate compared to the choices of a political body or larger part, thus "it is not attractive to develop an admiration for the law, such a great amount with respect to one side. The main commitment which I have a privilege to expect is to do whenever what I think right.... Law never made men a whit all the more only; and, by method for their admiration for it, even the all around arranged are day by day made the operators of foul play."
This evidence helped me see that thoreau is very nice to help get rid of unjust laws. Henry david thoreau said that he has not paid one of the taxes for six years,so he was put in jail. He didn't pay for the taxes because the more he paid the more people would do slavery the system was you pay so people can use other’s as slaves.this evidence shows me that thoreau is a very kind and helpfulOnce Henry david thoreau said”i have always paid the highway and school taxes because i am a good neighbor, and i support school’s that educate my fellow countrymen.he thinks that he is a good neighbor because he pays highway and school taxes,and because he doesn't break “all” of the laws. This evidence shows that He is a person who is encouraged for what’s
(Thoreau 4). This excerpt demonstrates Thoreau’s belief that the actions of one person can incentivize entire groups of people to take action and even correct a social institution as large as a national government. The other literary leader who expressed contempt for poor and unjust governance is Martin Luther King Jr.
We as citizens, should have the ability to know our limits, and obey certain rules without being forced. To conclude, Thoreau agrees that breaking the law due to injustice is
Throughout history there have been many political changes that are either supported, or not, by citizens. In the given passage from, "Civil Disobedience," by Thoreau, a perspective of disagreeing with the government ways, is provided. Thoreau explains how a government should be in comparison to how it really is by utilizing his words to set the tone and mode, imagery to achieve his audience's understanding, and diction to make his writing scholarly. Although tone and mode are not directly stated, you can infer that Thoreau meant for his writing to be taken as serious and powerful. His implementation of words such as, "inexpedient," "execute," " integrity," and "command," makes one think about their lawful rights and reflect on what rights are supported or
Throughout the writing of “Civil Disobedience,” Thoreau often referred back to his idea that he supported which was “That government is best which governs not at all.” (Thoreau) In the passage, Thoreau believed that the government does not have a conscience. He talked about not wanting to pay the government poll tax, which in result, caused him to be thrown into jail. A poll tax is just a tax on a person for existing, therefore, everyone had to pay the same amount regardless of the value of their possessions.
Thoreau was imprisoned for his violation. Being in prison to him seemed like a useless punishment because the State, the real danger, “did not know its friends from foes” (Thoreau, Paragraph 26) Thoreau makes a point to mention that it is not because he is against any particular item on the bill but he refuses taxes because he wishes “to refuse allegiance to the State” (Thoreau, Paragraph 35) This is his version of a peaceful protest because trying to make change with a vote will do nothing. One of his main problems made him share a common motive with Turner and Douglass, he did not believe in slavery. This piece is the most powerful approach of all reviewed through the semester.
He suggests that the best solution is “not at once no government, but at once a better government” (Thoreau 1). Instead of condemning government as a whole, Thoreau seeks for it to understand that “there will never be a really free and enlightened state until the state comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived” (Thoreau 4). Rather then stepping away from the affairs of the people, Thoreau simply wants the government to adapt to the power of the people. Through this, he reinstates a sense of democracy. Thoreau’s open mindset to change is proof that conditions will be better for those who are suffering, “for it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once well done is done forever” (Thoreau 7).
The individual's relationship to the state is a concept often entertained abstractly; at variance with this is Civil Disobedience, which analyzes Thoreau's first direct experience with state power in his brief 1846 imprisonment. Thoreau metaphorically detailed his search for virtue in the quote, "The finest qualities of our nature, like the bloom on fruits, can be preserved only by the most delicate handling. Yet we do not treat ourselves nor one another thus tenderly." (Thoreau 8) In Civil Disobedience Thoreau as earnest seeker and flawed captive of the conscience concertedly attempts to correct this shortcoming within the context of slavery and the Mexican-American War.
Mr. Thoreau argues that people should not allow any government to control or atrophy their thoughts or beliefs. Mr. Thoreau was an also remained a devoted abolitionist and has written
A government’s improvement revolves solely around recognizing the rights of men: “There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly” (Thoreau, 1847/1998, p. 146). The people form the government. A
This citation shows that Thoreau did not want to follow the laws. Thoreau also believed in living life by following moral law and not law stated in the constitution. Thoreau also believed that the government does best if it does not rule over the people. In the essay Civil Disobedience it says “That government is best which governs least”. This shows what Thoreau felt the government should not do.
(Thoreau). The decisions of the major part of society can sometimes exacerbate the morals of the nation as a whole. In times like this, there is an obligation to go against the government. As a matter of fact, civil disobedience is especially needed when the majority of decisions and choices are morally wrong and