ipl-logo

Compare And Contrast Resistance To Civil Government And Letters From Birmingham Jail

635 Words3 Pages

This nation has long been home to an idealistic hope that people strive to even have the chance at pursuing: the American Dream. However, this opportunity seemed unrealistic for an entire race as slavery and discrimination degraded African-Americans to a class seen as inferior to the rest of society. This idea existed in the mid-1800s and persisted throughout the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-1900s, both of which were met by the tactics of civil disobedience as seen through the work of Transcendentalist writer Henry David Thoreau and political activist Martin Luther King, Jr. Both similarities and differences between the two men become apparent in reading Thoreau’s “Resistance to Civil Government” and King’s “Letters From Birmingham Jail.” …show more content…

“Resistance to Civil Government” was written at the conclusion of the Mexican-American War in 1849, whereas “Letters from a Birmingham Jail” was written over a century later amidst the Civil Rights Movement. The two works also differ in their audience and purpose. Thoreau’s audience was mainly average Americans trying to get them on board with his principles and ideas about society. In contrast. King explicitly states that he was writing toward clergymen in response to their critiques of his actions, and as a result, his purpose was geared more towards explaining his actions and reconciling with the clergymen. Thoreau, however, used his writing to encourage his audience to make a difference and fight for what they believe in. Lastly, Thoreau was fighting more generally for human rights and against the injustices of an oppressive government, while King was fighting more narrowly for African-American

Show More
Related
602 Words | 3 Pages

On July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence to voice the need for liberation and rebellion against the English monarchy. On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., a civil right activist, wrote a Letter From Birmingham Jail as he sat in a jail cell after being arrested for protesting the segregation and injustices in not just Alabama, but the entire country The Declaration of Independence and A Letter from Birmingham Jail, although written nearly 200 years apart, share many similarities not only in style, but also in message. Both Jefferson and King had a common message. They were arguing the need for a certain freedom from their oppressors.

Read More
424 Words | 2 Pages

In each writing, both display the injustice in the government from different perspectives. Both Martin Luther King Jr. And Henry David Thoreau targeted large audiences rather than small ones. They did this so that they could capture more people's attention all at once. Thoreau insisted that unfair

Read More
443 Words | 2 Pages

"Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau and "Letter from Birmingham Jail" by Martin Lither King Jr. Both had the same idea but they were shared in different ways. "Civil Disobedience" was written in the 1830's where as "The Letter From Birmingham Jail" was written nearly 100 years letter. Both pieces of writing showed civil disobedience, and they were shared in the same way, but they both had different views. In both pieces of work the authors have different views of the injustice in the government. Both men, Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry David Thoreau, targeted larger groups rather than smaller ones.

Read More
542 Words | 3 Pages

Although their main goals may have been different, they both thought that the United States government needed to be reformed. It can be agreed that the majority always overpowers the minority. King says, “An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself.” Thoreau states something very similar is his essay when he says, “But a government in which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice..." Thoreau and King are both trying to convey that the government cannot pass a law just because the majority rules.

Read More
804 Words | 4 Pages

From the characteristics of an author’s writing, the reader can tell whether the author’s piece is effective. Despite how long ago they were made, Martin Luther King Jr.’s response to criticism from some clergymen in “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” and James Baldwin's “If Black English Isn't A Language, Then Tell Me What Is” on the role of language, remain important pieces of writing today because they still relate to the ongoing internal separation between races in America. Their long time recognition has their writing being compared to give readers with insight on how to develop their own argument successfully. King’s essay is more effective than Baldwin’s because of their different style, character, and vocabulary.

Read More
563 Words | 3 Pages

“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” (King, Jr.). Martin Luther King Jr. exceeded this “measure of a man” during his civil rights acts as a strong soldier in a very volatile time. During this time of “challenge and controversy” King made himself heard in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In some of his civil rights acts that occurred in Birmingham, resulted in him ending up in jail. During his time in jail, he wrote his also famous “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”

Read More
570 Words | 3 Pages

Letter of Birmingham Jail and Civil Disobedience Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. both tried to fight for their rights to go against the authority if there is any social injustice. Thoreau took the duty and responsibility of the people to protest and take action against the laws of the government. Although, King communicates to his people about the laws or the government against the blacks are intolerable and that “Civil Disobedience” should have an instrument of freedom. They both incredibly illustrate their thought that “Civil Disobedience” is a needed thing, and the similarities and differences of these two essays at portrayed through the time, people, speaker, tone, and strategies. Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience,” was wrote in the U.S. during the transcendentalism time around 1837 to about the 1840’s.

Read More
760 Words | 4 Pages

Dr. Martin Luther King and Frederick Roosevelt are both strong powered speakers of equal rights. These two amazing people have talked and fought for equal rights of every human being. With that, they’ve both have similarities in their amazing speeches letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King and four freedoms speech by Roosevelt. In 1963, MLK wrote a remarkable letter to the clergyman following his arrest In Birmingham. Whereas in 1941, Roosevelt published a speech to Congress on the state of the union.

Read More
586 Words | 3 Pages

Amity Lodevico ENG 1A Professor Clark 10 September, 2016 A strong country can only prevail when individuals have attained the ideals of justice and equality. However, throughout American history people have had to fight for their rights due to the injustices caused by the government. In “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King Jr. promotes the importance of justice and equality through responding to a letter from clergymen who wanted him to stop protesting against racial inequality. King’s letter builds upon his influences such as Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” and Thomas Jefferson’s “The Declaration of Independence,” through expressing discontentment with injustice and proclaiming away to combat it. The texts can also

Read More
1845 Words | 8 Pages

Civil Disobedience Compare and Contrast Henry Thoreau and Martin Luther King both wrote persuasive discussions that oppose many ideals and make a justification of their cause, being both central to their argument. While the similarity is obvious, the two essays, Civil Disobedience by Thoreau and Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. do have some similarities. King tries persuading white, southern clergymen that segregation is an evil, unfair law that ought to defeat by use of agitation of direct protesting. Thoreau, on the other hand, writes to a broader, non-addressed audience, and focuses more on the state itself. He further accepts it at its current state, in regard to the battle with Mexico and the institution of slavery.

Read More
1102 Words | 5 Pages

As society faced great inequities in the 19th and 20th centuries, activists and philosophers sought to inform the general public. At the turn of the 19th century, Thoreau presented his writing of a "Civil Disobedience" as an argument of the injustices of the tyrannical government after spending a night in jail. Likewise, Martin Luther King Jr. presented his argument to society as he was jailed in 1963. In his "Letter from Birmingham Jail," King perceives the injustice of the African American community as a primary goal as to the need for the advocation of the whole population. Whereas in Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience," it addresses the injustices in broader terms and stresses the despotic government.

Read More
678 Words | 3 Pages

Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience," is written in the United States during transcendentalism era which was around 1837 to the 1840's. But Martin Luther’s “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” was written over 100 years after “Civil Disobedience. They both focus on a different audience, Martin Luther wrote to the eight clergyman while Thoreau focuses

Read More
895 Words | 4 Pages

However, Thoreau writes to the common American people because they are directly affected by the government. He is trying to connect with the people willing to take a stand and speak out against the government with him. Also, he is writing to the people who oppose the Mexican war and slavery. Regardless of who King and Thoreau were writing too, they both delivered their arguments in an effective

Read More
251 Words | 2 Pages

In “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Martin Luther King defends the protestors’ thirst for justice by demonstrating the unjust society they live in. Over fifty years after the letter was written, it is still read today. Often times it gives people a sense of identity. However this letter gives me more than an identity. This letter gives me reason and motivation to always fight for a just society.

Read More
818 Words | 4 Pages

What's a powerful speech or letter you've read recently? Able to make you engaged and entertained? Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms" speech was addressed 1941 during the cold war about accepting the fact that America was going to get into the war no matter what, and to engage in this war we must defend the democracy we have or else it will corrupt and turn into a communist state. As well as defending our most important basic right, freedom. Meanwhile, Martin Luther King wrote a letter named "Letter from Birmingham Jail" during the period of racism against African Americans.

Read More

More about Compare And Contrast Resistance To Civil Government And Letters From Birmingham Jail

Open Document