2. HENRY DAVID THOREAU By Alex Young and Aubree Udell

3. Brief Biography  Born on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts.  He was a skilled writer.  Studied at Harvard University from 1833 to 1837.  Courses: rhetoric, classics, philosophy, mathematics, and science  Taught at a school in Canton, Massachusetts.  Him and his brother John opened a grammar school in Concord named Concord Academy.

4. Biography (continued)  Was a philosopher of nature along with studying it’s relation to the human condition.  Jobs:  Editorial assistant  repair man/gardener  children’s tutor,  Worked at a pencil factory  Land Surveyor  Lived in Emerson’s cabin on Walden Pond for two years.  Died on May 6, 1862 in Concord Massachusetts.

5. Thoreau’s Movement  Believed in transcendentalism  Believed in Naturalism  Believed in Individualism  Believed in Abolitionism

6. Contributions Made in Thoreau’s Movements  Objective was to make his life simpler, get back in tune with the natural world while being alone enabling him to write.  The experiment was to prove that a person can be in the world, but not of the world while just living plain without luxury of material goods.  Wrote Walden.  Shared the basis to his ideas of social activism against the government and naturalistic living.

7. Contributions Made in Thoreau’s Movements (continued)  In his writing, “The Civil Disobedience” he stressed individualism and the belief that should follow their conscious to know right from wrong.  Felt government was more harmful than helpful.  The government did not do what was in the people’s best interest.  Was determined to act against the injustice government.

8. Contributions Made in Thoreau’s Movements (continued)  Transcendentalism was not a religious experience, but a reformation of individuals.  Thoreau decided to carry out the movement of individualism and transcendentalism.  Felt the abolition of slavery needed to occur; therefore, he did could not resist himself from joining a group (the abolitionists).  By refusing to pay the government, Thoreau believed they would have to get rid of the slavery in Massachusetts.  Protested for many years by not paying his poll tax.

9. Effects  Many Political leaders and reformers were influenced by his writings, especially, Civil Disobedience.  Inner voices.  Influenced many naturalists.  Expressed the idea to many people that human that nature could be remade.  Many of his readers followed his belief that one should peacefully protest against what seems wrong within the government.  Put the idea of self-reliance into practice.

10. Bibliography  Thoreau, Henry David. Civil Disobedience. N.p.: Dover Publications, 1993. Print.  Thoreau, Henry David. Walden. N.p.: Dover Publications, 1995. Print.  Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. N.p., 30 June 2005. Web. 22 Mar. 2012..  American Transcendentalism Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012..  The Thoreau Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012..  The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012..