Civil Disobedience

Ramon Rodriguez

Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience has changed over time. The ideas of civil disobedience were the main themes in many of Socrates Greek tragedies. Throughout history civil disobedience has played a major role in society. Before the American Revolution john Locke taught that the government derived its authority from the people, that one of the purposes of the government was the protection of the natural rights of the people. Henry Thoreau also played a major role in civil disobedience. His speeches on the abolition of slavery and over throwing oppressive civil systems have influenced most civil right and revolutionist of today. One of the men he influenced was Nelson Mandela a man who changed an entire countries government and beliefs. (Lenie Arzamendi, February 28 2014)

Henry Thoreau was a lifelong abolitionist. Thoreau believed that all people should be treated fairly by the government and the people. He served as a conductor on the Underground Railroad and helped slaves escape to Canada. He believed the government should be challenged and adapted for the good of the people. He was sometimes extremely radical in his approach. He was also a great philosopher. Thoreau believed that people should look to themselves on how they should live their lives. Thoreau’s ideas of civil disobedience do not work well with the ideas of democracy. Democracy only works when a community is able to pass laws with the understanding that all will abide by what the majority desires. Thoreau completely rejects the idea that a person should ever compromise or tolerate a policy he or she did not want. In modern times most people believe in using nonviolent protest. Thoreau’s ideas conflict with that because he thought it was necessary to use violence to protest or overthrow a government. (Ann Woodlief)