How Did John Ridge Build A Stable Government

United States of American escaped the tyranny of Great Britain by fighting the Revolutionary War. The American Revolution was started with the Declaration of Independence, which was an attempt to end tyranny through a political demanding approach. Then the Constitution was the document to establish a new foundation for the American government by creating new laws. Howard Zinn in “A People’s History of the United Sates,” emphasizes the fact that the Constitution was developed by wealthy Americans. The Constitution was a way for the rich to, “...either control the government directly or control the laws by which the government operates.” (Zinn 90) A country which built a democracy that does not stand for the majority of the people will only create

Change is a necessary stepping stone in creating a stable government that is experiencing unequal treatment. Post Revolutionary War America was facing many new degrading dilemmas. Many institutes of change being practiced by the people during this time. African American slaves needed to rebel, protest and speak out to see any positive developments of mistreatment. Frederick Douglass and Nat Turner were two of the African American pioneers working for change in different ways. John Ridge also searches for justice and change dating back to 1826. Ridge did not share a motive with Turner and Douglass he wanted to fight for the rights of the Cherokee Indians. There is also change being fueled by targeting the legislative system in “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” written Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau challenges the American people to believe in their own beliefs instead of letting the government dictate their opinions. Change needs powerful words and actions lead by powerful

Thoreau used powerful speech in his essay about the act of civil disobedience, which he himself had done. Publication was not Thoreau’s only approach in his urge for change. Thoreau targeted the legislative system through his refused to pay taxes. He believed that if because he does not support the ideas of the government then he must not pay the taxes. This non-violent resistance to obey taxation brought about the attention of the government. 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 was able to influence many people and raise the usage of non-violent refusal to cooperate with