Thoreau – Civil Disobedience 1846 – Henry David Thoreau refused to pay a poll tax – he was arrested and jailed 1846 – Henry David Thoreau refused to pay a poll tax – he was arrested and jailed to his disdain, his relatives paid his tax for him to release him from jail to his disdain, his relatives paid his tax for him to release him from jail Thoreau denies the right of any government to automatic and unthinking obedience. Obedience should be earned and it should be withheld from an unjust government. Thoreau denies the right of any government to automatic and unthinking obedience. Obedience should be earned and it should be withheld from an unjust government.

Thoreau – Civil Disobedience Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right. Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience then? I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right.

Thoreau – Civil Disobedience Two times when open rebellion is justified: Two times when open rebellion is justified: –when the injustice is no longer occasional but a major characteristic –when the machine (government) demands that people cooperate with injustice. Thoreau declared that, “If the government requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.” Thoreau declared that, “If the government requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.”

Suffrage 72 year movement for women’s right to vote 72 year movement for women’s right to vote Alice Paul and the National Woman’s Party Alice Paul and the National Woman’s Party letter-writing, protests, marches, days of silence, hunger strikes, civil disobedience letter-writing, protests, marches, days of silence, hunger strikes, civil disobedience

Gandhi Early work was based off of Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience Early work was based off of Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience led movement for Independence of India led movement for Independence of India took Thoreau’s concept of disregarding unjust laws one step further – to disobeying nonviolently took Thoreau’s concept of disregarding unjust laws one step further – to disobeying nonviolently

Gandhi – nonviolence nonviolence is the refusal to respond with violence, regardless of how violently you are treated. nonviolence is the refusal to respond with violence, regardless of how violently you are treated. Satyagraha – “struggle for truth” or “truth force” Satyagraha – “struggle for truth” or “truth force” –Gandhi wanted to challenge in-equal social structures without setting off a spiral of violence

Later social movements U.S. Civil Rights Movement U.S. Civil Rights Movement Solidarity Solidarity Anti-apartheid movement Anti-apartheid movement –Truth and Reconciliation Commission Post-Soviet independence movements Post-Soviet independence movements