ABSTRACT
Henry David Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience presents four main themes: a broad critique of government, the ways in which a conscientious individual should respond to unjust political authority, the consequences of resistance, and the ways in which government can be improved. Thoreau begins his discussion with a critical examination of the American government. He criticizes the system of law upon which America was founded and explains why he is against the principle of majority rule in particular. Thoreau claims that sometimes the individual must not only oppose the actions of a government but also refuse to support the political system itself. A possible consequence of actively defying the government is punishment. After discussing potential political injustices and the stance the individual must take toward them, Thoreau explains his own experiences of defying the state and his consequent imprisonment. In this way, he demonstrates that the consequences of resistance to civil government are not as terrifying as they might appear.
