Please check attach file. I need this paperwork verified ASAP! thank you!

henry_david_thoreau.docx

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 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 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 supportedslavery, 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 19^th 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 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 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 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.

 

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

 

CourseLover

(12)

Status NEW Posted 31 Aug 2017 08:08 AM My Price 10.00

----------- He-----------llo----------- Si-----------r/M-----------ada-----------m -----------Tha-----------nk -----------You----------- fo-----------r u-----------sin-----------g o-----------ur -----------web-----------sit-----------e a-----------nd -----------acq-----------uis-----------iti-----------on -----------of -----------my -----------pos-----------ted----------- so-----------lut-----------ion-----------. P-----------lea-----------se -----------pin-----------g m-----------e o-----------n c-----------hat----------- I -----------am -----------onl-----------ine----------- or----------- in-----------box----------- me----------- a -----------mes-----------sag-----------e I----------- wi-----------ll

Not Rated(0)

• Buy Answer