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The Significance Of Government In Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience

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Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” published in the year 1866, made an impact on the views of many Americans and has carried out in the present day. Civil disobedience is the act of demonstrating non-violent protests. “All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable” (Thoreau). One of the main messages that Thoreau portrays from his essay, is that the citizens of a government have the right to act if they believe that the government is not governing properly. As Thoreau believes “That government is bets which governs not at all” (Thoreau). Civil Disobedience plays much significance into current American values. Throughout the country, there are many non-violent protests that take place against the government due to the decisions that are being made. If an individual believed the government was not doing their job, they could disobey the law to prove their point, much like Thoreau. Thoreau displayed his act of civil disobedience by …show more content…

Before reading Thoreau’s essay, it did not cross my mind that I would ever disobey the government in order to show my resilience. Obviously there are ways that I could peacefully protest against a decision that the government makes, however, to directly go against the law in order to show what I stand for gave me another look. Now I look at certain decisions that the government is making and whether or not I agree with them. Consequences accompany the decisions made, much like Thoreau was for my actions for direct disobeying the government, it would seem more prideful if I were to do so as I would be able to make a statement, rather than peacefully protesting. Thoreau’s essay left me with a new view on how to make a

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