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Civil Disobedience: Documents Of Freedom

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Civil Disobedience Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society. Without peaceful resistance, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s peaceful protests on Civil Right’s, African American citizens would not have the right’s that they unquestionably deserve. Also, many others would not have the ability to accomplish the things that they can today. Aggressive and pernicious disobedience only leads to downfalls and violence in our society, but placid and peaceful disobedience, make America the free country that it is today. According to “Documents of Freedom,” their views on Civil Discourse and Petitioning are that it is a crucial matter in having a free society. Injustices including government and global issues need to be spoken …show more content…

The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right.” This is and was an example to the people of America because this shows us that we need to choose what is right.This all relates correspondingly to civil disobedience, because these people spoke out to stand up for what is morally right and to make a point to America, and that it was their obligation to put America’s best interests first. Thoreau wanted to make a powerful statement and stand-up for what he believed was deserved, he believed paying the poll tax was wrong and he wouldn’t do it because he did not believe in it. The King Center Archive said that he believed citizens “ought deliberately to break laws that conflict with their moral …show more content…

He sent a letter from Birmingham jail as to why he was there speaking out against acts of hate and injustice. One part of his letter that stuck with me was when he said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” In this piece he describes that he came to Birmingham to speak out against injustices. His dream was to end discrimination and he wanted it to be done peacefully and with love. This shows that when someone “opposes a law one considers unjust and peacefully disobeys it while accepting the consequences,” it can turn out good for a society. Braveness and courage can lead to broken boundaries and positive effects, as did Dr. King’s acts to end

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How Is Injustice Shown In Letter From Birmingham Jail

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's “Letter From Birmingham Jail”, is a timeless piece that was used not only in the past but can be applied to the present and future as well. This piece holds much value because there will always be persecution and injustice present but this text reminds everyone that there can be a difference made if you stick to what you believe and fight for change. King shows us that through non-violent protests you can get your point across in an effective way because you are showing more strength by not giving your persecutors the satisfaction of knowing that they control you and your emotions. He was ahead of his time in the sense that he set the precedent for the rest of humanity to fight for equality and to love those who hate you, even if it is grueling. Too many people will choose caution over courage, and King was a prime example of why we should all choose courage no matter the adversity and detestation that may come with

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Letter From Birmingham Jail By Martin Luther King Jr

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He addresses the clergymen, who criticized his work in Birmingham, then describes the four basic steps to any non-violent campaign. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through his “Letter From Birmingham Jail” describes self-purification as a critical point in the process of

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Similarities Between Thoreau And Martin Luther King Jr

1449 Words | 6 Pages

It was to his belief that people couldn’t sit around and vote for justice because that’s just as effective as hoping for justice. If a law was unjust but faced a lengthy process to obliterate it, then Thoreau believed it should be broken and not recognized. In order to make a

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812 Words | 4 Pages

In both of these writings, the authors effectively illustrates their belief that civil disobedience is necessary when social injustice is present and that doing so, is the responsibility of men.

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Henry David Thoreau's Impact On Society

1107 Words | 5 Pages

Slavery was one of the largest issues for Thoreau. He thought that it showed how much the government thought they were more superior than the people in slavery, which is one example of why he wanted the citizens to be civil disobedient against the government. This helps to explain how Thoreau thought it was the citizen's obligation to rebel when situations become too unreasonable to the nation. With this case, more than half of the population was slaves, but yet most of the citizen’s would not revolutionize. Thoreau was extremely persistent in believing that civil disobedience was up to the citizens of the United States of America when events or issues become too unjustified.

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Peaceful resistance to laws, also known as civil disobedience, both positively and negatively impacts a free society. If everyone were to disobey laws, an anarchy would exist; America would live in chaos. But, if everyone were to obey every law, then the spectrum would shift to the far left, and America could become a socialist country. Moreover, if civil obedience did not exist, America would not be a country today because nobody would have rebelled against the British! So, civil disobedience is both necessary and destructive depending on the situation.

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What Is Thoreau's Claim In Civil Disobedience

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He says that people have a duty to civil disobedience; however, civil disobedience is not always enough to change anything in the government. One of his claims of fact is that he describes the American government as expedient, convenient and practical, but improper or immoral. A government that is okay with slavery is not a government he wants to be a part of. These claims of value are what Thoreau believes are necessary to instill in the American people. In opposition to this Thoreau also claims that people are usually too slow in making changes to the government, they need to act faster before things get worse.

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As a peaceful form of protest, civil disobedience has been practiced for centuries in pursuance of social and lawful change. Topics such as lower taxes and improved labor laws have been fought for the betterment of the people. To be practiced, I believe the cause must be well thought-out, the participants prepared and informed, and the change should be beneficial to society. Though there are many skeptics who claim to practice civil disobedience is a waste of time and (or) resources, I believe this method is not only the most advantageous to the protestors but is best for the public eye to see. Throughout centuries, we have seen civil disobedience being practiced, and many times it is a fruitless pursuit because there is a lack of sophistication

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Essay Outline For Civil Disobedience

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The government and the majority get a better perspective of the minority. Furthermore, it allows people in the government to get a better perspective from the public. Civil disobedience positively impacts free society because these acts spread awareness of unjust laws, and cause the governments to double check laws and question if they are really necessary (“Civil Disobedience Impact on Society”).

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890 Words | 4 Pages

Civil disobedience is a form of nonviolent protest that involves breaking the law to challenge unjust policies or practices. The term civil disobedience was theorised only in the 19th century by Henry Thoreau, although such forms of rebellion have existed for as long as injustices, and, until there are, I strongly believe that civil disobedience should be implemented to demand change and justice. Whenever certain rights are threatened, I think everyone has to rise up to protect them, because, as T. Jefferson stated: “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty”. Civil disobedience is one of the ways citizens can organise their resistance and, throughout history, it has proven itself successful many times; however, not everyone agrees

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Internal turmoil suggests a spark beginning with Occupy Wall Street and spreading to Black Lives Matter, the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, and the anti-Trump movement. News of Colin Kaepernick, the Women’s March, and travel ban demonstrations has consumed the country just as unfettered criticism of civil disobedience has consumed those struggling to understand the need to resist. The focus shifts not to the message but to the supposedly violent nature of these protests, the question of what these protesters ask for when their rights are already “guaranteed.” We must be reminded that our founding father Thomas Jefferson said “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” We speak now not of revolution but of civil disobedience, not of the necessity of killing but of the necessity of expression—expression that may emerge as anger toward an issue that requires addressing.

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Civil Disobedience Essay

1382 Words | 6 Pages

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.

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Rosa Parks And Freedom Essay

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Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society by invoking thought on an unjust subject. If Rosa Parks had not stood up for her individual rights, America could have been segregated even today. If no one protests laws, the world will not be free. Without freedom, society will cease to exist. The modern world will disappear into another era of fear and oppression if there is no one to fight for rights.

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658 Words | 3 Pages

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.

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Civil Disobedience Summary

410 Words | 2 Pages

Summary: The purpose of “Civil Disobedience” was to open people’s eyes to the injustices committed by the government and to cause them to do something about it. Thoreau talks about how the American government is by definition unjust due to its support of slavery and the Mexican War and how change is needed very soon. He warned to “not at once [have] no government, but at once a better government.” in order to make it clear that he was not calling for a revolution, but a reform of the government.

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