Civil Disobedience

Henry David ThoreauIntroductory Notes

Civil Disobedience

• Civil disobedience is defined as the refusal to obey certain laws or governmental demands for the purpose of influencing legislation or government policy.

• It is characterized by nonviolent acts such as boycotting, picketing, and nonpayment of taxes.

• “Peaceful resistance”

Why did Thoreau write Civil Disobedience?

• Between 1846 and 1848 the Mexican War ensued (border dispute between Texas and Mexico)

• Thoreau objected to the war because his tax money was supporting slavery—this land would become a slave territory

• Refused to pay his taxes and was put in jail• Thoreau writes Civil Disobedience while there• He only spent one night as his aunt paid his

back taxes for him