In "Resistance to Civil Government," Henry David Thoreau criticizes the moral complicity of individuals in a government that perpetuates injustice, particularly regarding slavery and the Mexican-American War. He argues that citizens should prioritize their conscience over allegiance to the state, advocating for civil disobedience as a means to resist unjust laws. Thoreau emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and ethical action in the face of systemic wrongdoing. Ultimately, he calls for a more profound commitment to justice and personal integrity.
The Mexican-American War :)
In "Resistance to Civil Government," Thoreau criticizes the institution of government for practicing unjust policies such as slavery, the Mexican-American War, and the enforcement of unjust laws. He argues that individuals should resist supporting such actions through passive resistance and civil disobedience. Thoreau advocates for individual conscience and moral principles as the foundation for just governance.
slavery
An individual's relationship to government
The role the government should play in people's lives
To compare injustice to something concrete -apex
government is a nessesary evil
The role the government should play in people's lives
In Jail
In Jail
That it has not done enough to truly represent the people
In "Resistance to Civil Government" (commonly known as "Civil Disobedience"), Thoreau explains his reasons for being imprisoned to highlight the unjust nature of the government and its laws. By detailing his experience, Thoreau demonstrates how he willingly sacrificed his freedom in protest against a government that he believed was acting immorally, thereby asserting the power of individual conscience over the dictates of the state. Ultimately, Thoreau's aim is to inspire others to question the authority of the government and to act according to their own principles and beliefs.