Which main idea do President Barack Obama's inaugural speech and Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience have in common?

Answer 1

I am not sure there are common ideas in the two speeches. The one was offered after the 2008 election, in what was for many people a very hopeful time in American history, when America had just elected its first black president; Mr. Obama's speech was about how America had changed and how citizens and government could work together to overcome the challenges the nation still faced. The other was offered by Henry David Thoreau in 1849, and its title was originally "Resistance to Civil Government." In it, he discussed the need to resist unjust laws, such as slavery, and he advocated for a government that was small and did not impose too many burdens on the citizen.

The one common theme might be the duty of the citizen to be responsible and to take action when he (back in Thoreau's day, it referred only to men, since only they could vote) sees injustice. But both men advocate for very different visions of the role of government and the role of the citizen. I enclose links to both speeches, so that you can judge for yourself whether they have common themes.

Answer 2

Both President Barack Obama's inaugural speech and Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" advocate for the importance of civic engagement and standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. They both emphasize the power of individuals to create positive change in society through their actions and beliefs.