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Injustice In Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience

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In Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience, he explains his beliefs, criticizes the issues he sees within the government, and proposes how we should handle these injustices especially after experiencing jail. Thoreau didn't pay poll taxes, which supported a war and slavery itself (Costly, n.d.). Thoreau regards that the government shouldn’t completely interfere with our lives, but should not be completely done away with. Also, that it is not used correctly and tends to only benefit the majority who may or may not have logical or just views. People are supposed to do what they think is right and not go against their conscience, but to follow it and not what is proposed by the majority. He also believes that a person should distance themselves from government, especially if it is unjust and should refuse to follow such institutions that go against one’s beliefs of doing wrong acts. Although Thoreau affirms we should rebel against what is wrong, we should also be peaceful when doing it like he does, for example, and not participate in passive waiting for something that may be deemed as unjust to change. Do what justice requires no matter what but always be aware of the consequences and do not do unjustly acts when refusing …show more content…

The idea of civil disobedience was sparked by Thoreau during which slavery was at the peak of its prevalence and most likely influenced other abolitionists like himself to act upon such things they deemed as unjust. Not only was resistance to unjustful acts relevant over 100 years ago, it sparked some of the largest movements of disobedience in the 20th and 21st century which had huge results and left a lasting

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