FAQ About Henry David Thoreau

In his essay "Civil Disobedience," Henry David Thoreau argues that individuals should not permit governments to overrule or atrophy their consciences and that they have a duty to avoid allowing such acquiescence to enable the government to make them the agents of injustice. He was particularly motivated by his opposition to slavery and the Mexican-American War, which he viewed as unjust. Thoreau's activism through peaceful resistance has inspired many world leaders and movements.