Type of Work
.......Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" is an essay that attempts to persuade readers to oppose unjust government policies in general and the Mexican War and the institution of slavery in particular.
Point of View
.......Thoreau wrote "Civil Disobedience" in first-person point of view.
Issues Discussed
....... Thoreau says it is the duty of all citizens to disobey unjust government policies. They should express their opposition through acts of civil disobedience, such as refusing to pay taxes. Thoreau cites two examples of unjust U.S. government policies: the continuation of the institution of slavery and the prosecution of the Mexican War.
.......Citizens of good conscience should actively oppose unjust government policies through nonviolent resistance, such as refusal to pay taxes. They should even be willing to go to jail rather than yield to immoral or unethical government laws and activities
Second, If you have not finished their annotations yet, (paragraph summaries and vocabulary and definitions) start there
Third, begin answering the 10 questions below. Remember to highlight/underline where in the passage you found your answer--this will serve as your paragraph annotating (remember the annotations/definitions count as part of your grade). The directions for the questions are relisted below.
Questions for the Introduction: (answers may be typed or handwritten)---Please restate and give textual evidence whenever possible.
1. Why is Civil Disobedience considered, "one of the most important works in American history" having to do with the relationship of the individual to government?
2. According to paragraphs 2 and 3 on page 3, what are some of main points that Thoreau presents in "Civil Disobedience"?
3. What was Thoreau protesting? Why?
4. Why is "Civil Disobedience" an important read for high school students?
5. What is Thoreau's opinion about, "government, its nature and legitimacy" according to the section "Nature of Government" on page 4?
6. Why does Thoreau not approve of "majority rule" (par. 2, page 4)?
7. According to the section, "Importance of Personal Conscience and Self Reliance" on page 4, why does Thoreau consider his current situation worse than 1775 (the time of the American Revolution)?
8. Why does Thoreau compare voting to "gaming" (par. 4, page 4)?
9. Explain Thoreau's experience in prison described in this section? Why does he go, what was his experience like, what does he conclude because of it? ("Ideas About Civil Disobedience")
10. Summarize the information given to you in the section "What is Needed in Government" (page 6). What are the main points? Give textual evidence.
(notes above in red from the following source: http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Civil.html)
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