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Ryann M. Quintano
Professor Kenneth Poff
ENGL-2327-011
1 Dec 2015
Resistance to Civil Government
Introduction
Civil Disobedience also known as Resistance to Civil Government is a book written by Henry
David Thoreau. This book was first published in the Aesthetics Papers that was owned by
Elizabeth Peabody in May 1949 and it explained the reason why David went to prison. Thoreau
was an abolitionist and he refused to pay taxes stating that paying taxes was a form of slavery
and therefore he objected it. As a philosopher who believed in the ideas of transcendentalism,
he refused to pay taxes to the Massachusetts poll tax as a way to protest against slavery.
Thoreau also protested against Mexican war and for these reasons, he spent a night in July
1846 in a jail cell.
In his book Resistance to Civil Government, Thoreau stated ‘That government is best which
governs least’ (Thoreau 945). He stated these words in favor of the type of government that
does not interfere and intrude with the lives of its people. Thoreau in his book stated that it is
the people who choose the government that will represent them and execute their will. In this
case therefore, the government should not take that advantage to misuse its people since it
only exists as an expedient that acts as a means to an end. He also stated that there are some
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people who use the government as a tool to satisfy their own selfish needs and interests. For
example, some individuals in the government used the Mexican War as a tool for their selfish
reasons. Thoreau in his book Resistance to Civil Government also stated that the government
exists because it should develop people but not hinder their development and accomplishment.
His desire was to have a better government that ensures that there is freedom and rules based
on justice and equity rather than physical strength.
Slavery
Thoreau in his book Resistance to Civil Government addressed the issue of slavery. Slavery
began with the Mexican war that was started in May 1846. The aim of this war was to expand
the slave territory to other boundaries. The government used the Mexican war as way to add
more slave territories into the United States. In this case therefore, Thoreau refused to pay
taxes as a way to fight against slavery. Thoreau had failed to pay his taxes for many years and
the authority had ignored but in July 1846, the then constable Sam Staples ordered him to pay
his due taxes. However, Thoreau refused to comply and on July 23, he was put in jail but the
following day after someone paying his fine, he was released (Author 234).
Unlike the people from the South who were for slavery, the Northerners were opposing slavery.
However in the 1850s, the United States government came up with laws like the Fugitive Slave
law that were slavery-friendly. This therefore made the abolitionists to oppose slavery in
various ways like disobeying the government by refusing to pay their taxes. Nonetheless,
slavery was abolished in 1865 when the North won the civil war that lasted for 4 years in 1861
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to 1865. After the war, the Emancipation Proclamation freed all the slaves that were in the
Confederate territory.
In his book, Thoreau stated that rules and laws are man-made and therefore there is always a
higher law than another. For this reason, if there are two or more conflicting laws, the higher
law must be obeyed and followed. This rule is also applicable to law that is viewed legal so
despite how legal it is, the higher law must be followed. Therefore slavery, however legal it
was; it was a violation of human rights and the integrity of the enslaved. Thoreau also stated
that as long as the United States government supported slavery, no one will want to be
associated with such country that supports such unscrupulous act.
Manifest Destiny
Manifest destiny is the view and idea that was in the 19th century that the United Sates had the
destiny to expand its boundaries in other countries and continents. Manifest destiny led to the
United States expanding its boundaries to Texas and this causes Mexican war between the
Mexico and the United States. In his book Resistance to Civil Government, Henry Thoreau was
against this expansion because it allowed slavery in those new territories. This therefore means
that with manifest destiny, those countries that did not allow slavery will now allow due to the
expansion of boundaries to new territories (Thoreau 200).
The consequences of the Mexican war were terrible and Thoreau was dismayed with the fact
that there were some people who supported the war. He was horrifies that there were some
neighboring countries that not only supported the war but also financed it through paying
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taxes. The idea of supporting the Mexican war through paying taxes dismayed him and he then
decided to refuse to pay the taxes.
Thoreau refused to pay his taxes as a way to prove that he was not supporting the war and
slavery. By failing to comply with paying taxes after a long time, Thoreau was put in a prison cell
where he spent their one night. Thoreau believed that there were some selfish individuals who
were using the government as a tool to satisfy their own self-centered agendas.
Manifest Destiny made the United States to stretch its territories to other countries and this
increases western settlement in other countries. At the same time, manifest destiny also
enhances the removal of the Native Americans and also stirred up war with Mexico.
Thoreau in his book stated that those soldiers who participated in Mexican war became less
than human considering the fact that they kill others out of obedience. He continued to state
that those soldiers who are employed by the government render their services not as human
beings but as machines. Therefore they renounce their moral senses and exercise and lower
themselves on a level with non -human beings like stones.
In respect to the Mexican war, Thoreau in his book continued to state that there are some
people who desperately need a government and therefore they are willing to accept any
government even if it’s the imperfect one. He also criticized those people who say that law is
law and should be followed despite its content. Instead, he said that not all laws are equal and
therefore not all of them should be followed. For instance, he said that there are some laws
that exist so as to protect the government; for example tax evasion laws have more severe
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consequences than laws that are meant to protect people against war and violence (Thoreau
930).
Thoreau in his book believed that manifest destiny is used by the government as a tool to ignite
unnecessary war and to oppress the poor against slavery. Manifest destiny led to increased
slavery because more countries allowed slavery. Slavery became a controversial topic since two
sides had opposing views regarding it. The people from the North who were abolitionists were
against slavery and they opposed the scrupulous act by disobeying the government by refusing
to pay their taxes. People from the South on the other hand, supported slavery because they
claimed that slaves will be able to work in the lands of the rich people hence improve the lives
of the rich. However, after the North winning the war against the South, slavery was abolished.
In all the books written by Henry Thoreau, he explained the issues that were going on in the
society and the government. Those issues addressed in his books either directly or indirectly
affected the lives or beliefs of individuals. For example, in his book Resistance to Civil
Government, Henry Thoreau addressed the issues and activities that were being practiced by
the United States government that negatively affected the people. For instance, he explained
how the government was oppressing its people by encouraging slavery and forcing people to
pay taxes. These issues affected the people in a negative way because the slaves were forced to
work against their will. Therefore, he used his book to address the important matter that
affected people. Thoreau was against all the activities done by his government that were
violating the rights and integrity of individuals including slaves. He instead promoted activities
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and beliefs that respected and valued human beings. In this case therefore, there is no conflict
that arises between the inherent individualism of Thoreau’s work and the way he uses to
advocate and espouse a popular cause.
Applications for Thoreau’s principles today
Henry Thoreau through his book Resistance of Civil Government has inspired a lot of people
across the world today. The principle of resisting and disobeying the government which is
performing and encouraging unfair and unjust activities was embraced by Thoreau. This
principle is used today by leaders and citizens of different countries. Nowadays people disobey
and oppose the government that does not care on the welfare of its citizens. Citizens nowadays
engage in protests so as to address their disapprovals towards some unscrupulous activities
performed by the government. Authors of books have also criticized the government through
their books by addressing all the illegal and crooked activities done by the government.
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References
Author, Iep. “Thoreau, Henry David.” (2015): 234-236.
David, Thoreau Henry. “Walden and Civil Disobedience.” (2012):900-967
Belasco, Susan, and Linck Johnson. “Henry David Thoreau.” Bedford Anthology of American
Literature. Second ed. Vol. 1. 943-960. Print.
David, Thoreau Henry. “Walden and Civil Disobedience.” (2012):900-967
Thoreau, Henry David. Civil disobedience. MindFull Media, 2015:945-960
Thoreau, Henry David. On the Duty of Civil Disobedience: Resistance to Civil Goverment. Lulu
Press, Inc, 2013: 200-208
…
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