Civil Disobedience Review

Front

What is the central idea of 'Civil Disobedience'?

Back

Citizens should be willing to act on their own sense of right and wrong.

Front

What was Thoreau's primary act of civil disobedience in his own life?

Back

Refusal to pay taxes.

Front

How did Thoreau view the war with Mexico?

Back

He was against it.

Front

What does Thoreau mean by 'we should be men first, and subjects afterwards'?

Back

Each individual must follow his or her own conscience.

Front

Why was Thoreau not afraid of being in jail or not paying the tax?

Back

It was only his body that was imprisoned, not his mind. He was willing to go to jail to prove his point.

Front

Define civil disobedience.

Back

The active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power.

Front

What is the significance of individual conscience in Thoreau's philosophy?

Back

Thoreau emphasizes that individuals must prioritize their moral beliefs over societal laws.

Front

How does Thoreau's civil disobedience relate to democracy?

Back

It highlights the importance of individual rights and moral responsibility in a democratic society.

Front

What role does government play according to Thoreau?

Back

Government should be a reflection of the people's will, but it can become corrupt and unjust.

Front

What is the relationship between justice and law in Thoreau's view?

Back

Not all laws are just; individuals have a duty to resist unjust laws.