Civil Disobedience Essay

A society where dissent is met with violence, and those in power are not held accountable for their actions. This was the reality during the Civil Rights Movement, where individuals were hit with brutal force for standing up against oppressive laws. However, by using peaceful resistance and civil disobedience, change was made. Through its ability to challenge and promote change, foster personal beliefs, and hold those in power accountable, civil disobedience is a vital tool for the preservation of a just society.

The promotion of change is required in order to maintain a just society. Or the willingness of governments and world leaders to make a change when their hand is forced. Without cooperation with citizens, a country is bound to some

Not everyone has the same beliefs and convictions and this is important to note. Therefore, individuals must always seek for the truth. In his Strength to Love, Martin Luther King Jr. state that “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” when a “man” is in challenging situations it is a true test to see what morals and beliefs an individual has (King). During times of civil disobedience the driving force behind major movements are best when coming from individuals. Having a solid world view and knowing right from wrong is the most important when it comes to protests such as boycotts and sit-ins, parades, etc. By attaining a powerful driving factor, civil disobedience can be effective. In HenryDavid Thoreau’s Walden, he states “If a man does not keep pace with his companion, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer” this goes along with the virtue of individualism that is brought with civil disobedience (Thoreau). Being an individual is incorporated in civil disobedience because of the personal decision making in front of unjust laws and societal issues. Because of their own personal beliefs, rather than being directed by an outside force, allows individuals to have a deeper commitment and responsibility when taking action in

It is extremely important to maintain the balance of power in society and not to give too much power to the wrong people. That is why keeping tabs on the more powerful figures is a standard for civil disobedience. One quote by Ghandi “The moral progress of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated” is a way to express the need for a moral compass in any person with power. Another quote from his newspaper “Harijan '' states “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members” the leaders are in charge of the society and their actions reflect the current state of a society (Gandhi). When the leaders are treating its members poorly there is a need for accountability for their actions. For example, the salt march is an act of civil disobedience keeping the British from exerting too much power upon India. The British government imposed an expensive tax on salt that was too much for the common man to pay. Also, it was illegal to sell or produce salt, it had to be bought from the British. Because of this unfair situation put on the Indian population, Mahatma Gandhi led the Salt March to use “satyagraha” or civil disobedience against the unfair rules imposed upon them. During this march, Gandhi and thousands of activists walked 240 miles to the