Civil Disobedience Essays - Examples of Argumentative Research Paper Topics, Summaries GradesFixer

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General Overview

The term “civil disobedience” was brought about in 1849 by Henry David Thoreau in his essay and since those times has been sparkling controversies with its ambiguous nature. What exactly falls under civil disobedience? Is it an act of breaking the law, is it a fight for justice, or is ... it a lawful right of all citizens to the freedom of speech? These questions are a bit hard to answer, mainly due to unresolved semantics behind this phrase. Usually, it is explained as a non-violent resistance against some government policies that seem to be unjust. To be familiar with civil processes and navigate in the complex world of politics, one must know the story behind this term. To bring light to this complex matter, outline any papers and essays on this issue and pay attention to the introduction and conclusion of the writings.

Civil Disobedience in The Arguments of Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Socrates

1723 words | 4 Pages

Civil disobedience can be defined in a number of different ways: in its most raw form, “civil disobedience is the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest because of moral objections to said...

Topics:

Democracy, Law, Protest, United States

A Critical Analysis of Civil Disobedience, an Essay by Henry David Thoreau

611 words | 1 Page

In his Essay, “Civil Disobedience”, Henry David Thoreau argues that society functions the most efficiently when it is not ruled by an overpowering monarch, or by a strong central government, but by the people, essentially having self-reliant peoples that do not necessarily need a government,...

Civil Disobedience Book Report Literature Review

Topics:

Anarcho-primitivism, Civil disobedience, Government, Henry David Thoreau, Jr., Martin Luther King, Ralph Waldo Emerson, United States

The Controversial Question of The Use of Civil Disobedience as a Method of Protest in a Democracy

1300 words | 3 Pages

Acceptable Methods of Protest in America The United States of America is a country that is run by a democratic government, in order to protect the rights and liberties of the citizens in its discourse community. When social issues arise, citizens have the right to...

Civil Disobedience Democracy Protest

Topics:

Nonviolence, Nonviolent resistance, Plato, Protest

Questioning Democracy in Thoreau's and Melville's Works

1484 words | 3 Pages

America has long been recognized as a democratic nation, a nation operating under the will of the people. The forefathers of America fought incessantly against British tyranny to start anew in a land of freedom and opportunity. Because America revived the ancient Greek ideology of...

Civil Disobedience Book Report Democracy

Topics:

Bartleby, Direct democracy, Majority, Slavery

An Overview of Civil Disobedience

939 words | 2 Pages

At the beginning of “Civil Disobedience,” Thoreau expresses agreement with the idea “that government is best which governs least”. When carried to its logical conclusion, this concept leads to the realization “that government is best which governs not at all”. Thoreau believes government is the...

Political Philosophy Book Report Civil Disobedience

Topics:

Anarcho-primitivism, Civil disobedience, Democracy, Henry David Thoreau, Human rights, Individual rights, Individualist anarchism, Liberalism, Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Significant Role of Civil Disobedience in Shaping Society

507 words | 1 Page

Martin Luther King Jr once stated, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” In this quote, he was invoking the principle of civil disobedience. He wasn't justifying breaking laws just because, but instead, meant that the law is broken in hopes that people...

Civil Disobedience

Topics:

Boston Tea Party, Civil disobedience, Henry David Thoreau, Indian independence movement, Martin Luther King, Nonviolence, Nonviolent resistance, Protest, Satyagraha

A Comparison of The Similarities Between Civil Disobedience and Letter from Birmingham Jail

1747 words | 3 Pages

Keywords: Civil disobedience,Henry David Thoreau,Martin Luther King, Jr.,Nonviolence,Letter from Birmingham Jail,Civil Disobedience,Minority rights,Direct action,Social movement In Henry David Thoreau’s “ Civil Disobedience” and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” the authors examine the notion of disobeying the government in the case of...

Civil Disobedience Letter From Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King

Topics:

Anarcho-primitivism, Morality, Political philosophy

The Underlying Meaning of Civil Disobedience

462 words | 1 Page

Civil disobedience is breaking a law that isn’t agreed with. Henry Thoreau, a transcendentalist, encouraged peaceful civil disobedience. The law must be something that many people find bad and they all must act against it, whether it be not paying taxes or petitioning. Thoreau, himself,...

Civil Disobedience

Topics:

Civil disobedience, Henry David Thoreau, Jr., Law, Martin Luther King, Nonviolence, Nonviolent resistance, Oregon, Protest, Satyagraha

An Overview of The Non-violent Direct Action, Liberty Or Harm Principle, and Civil Disobedience

1714 words | 4 Pages

Non-Violent Direct Action (King) Non- violent direct action according to Martin Luther King is to create a tension using the four steps listed below in the community so people cannot ignore the injustice that is happening. King lists four steps to non-violent direct action: 1....

Civil Disobedience

Topics:

Civil disobedience, John Stuart Mill, Justice, Martin Luther King, Nonviolence, Utilitarianism

Henry David Thoreau's Views on The Role of Government in Civil Disobedience

430 words | 1 Page

Henry David Thoreau, the author of Civil Disobedience, clearly shows signs of being a rebel. He has many negative views and ideas on government, with a focus on American government as well. Thoreau believes that the government is not supposed to essentially fulfill their job....

Civil Disobedience Book Report Literature Review

Topics:

Anarcho-primitivism, Civil disobedience, Federal government of the United States, Government, Henry David Thoreau, Hierarchy, Jr., Martin Luther King, Ralph Waldo Emerson, State

Review of Henry David Thoreau’s Writing, Civil Disobedience

1294 words | 3 Pages

There is an old saying that states that one should not build a house on sand; instead, one should always build a house on solid ground. Using this phrase as a metaphor in order to discuss the foundations of government, one can allude to the...

Civil Disobedience Book Report Literature Review

Topics:

Anarcho-primitivism, Civil disobedience, Democracy, Individual, Individual rights, Individualism, Individualist anarchism

The Importance of Defending Your Standards as Depicted by Thoreau in Civil Disobedience

1012 words | 2 Pages

Understanding Civil Disobedience We all encounter at least one instance in our lives when we are told to do something that seems to go against our moral code. Unfortunately for most of us, we will end up doing these things due to some authoritative figure...

Civil Disobedience Book Report Literature Review

Topics:

Belief, Civil disobedience, Henry David Thoreau, Integrity, Martin Luther King, Nonviolence, Nonviolent resistance, Satyagraha, Value

Assessment of The Protest March by Gandhi and The Indian Independence Movement

3553 words | 8 Pages

Gandhi’s civil disobedience campaigns of the 1920’s and 1930’s were pivotal factors in attaining independence. Gandhi, a “central figure in the relationship of Congress and the Raj” was able to awaken Indians into political movements. However, he was “interested primarily in social matters”. It was...

Civil Disobedience

Topics:

Attainment of independence, Civil disobedience, Commonwealth of Nations, Increasing pressure, Little nationalism, Nationalism, Swaraj

"Civil Disobedience": First Step to Individualism

599 words | 1 Page

Disobedience happens when contrast between one’s inner beliefs and society’s norms collide. However, it can be seen as a starting act for an individual. A start of an action which has its alliance with Emerson’s Transcendentalism. Such transcendentalism in America gradually, allows separation towards the...

Individualism Civil Disobedience Society

Topics:

Civil and political rights, Civil disobedience, Henry David Thoreau, Individual rights, Individualism, Individualist anarchism, Martin Luther King, Nonviolent resistance, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Satyagraha

Essay to Analyze Different Opinions About Slaves in The United States

1455 words | 3 Pages

Slavery was the primary provoking factor that made a Civil War break out in the U.S. This was because there was a clear distinction between Northern Abolitionists and people in the South who heavily relied on slavery, because they were required for their agricultural based...

Slave Trade American Civil War Civil Disobedience

Topics:

Civil disobedience

Disobedience and Its Influence on Society

937 words | 2 Pages

Who knows where our society would be without individual defiance? In the past, there have been a number of advocates of disobedience, that support the future of societal progression. These advocates were the only ones willing to take a stand against the injustices when no...

Civil Disobedience

Topics:

Civil disobedience

Oscar Wilde’s View: is Disobedience a Valuable Human Trait

767 words | 2 Pages

Keywords: 18th century of American history, Oscar Wilde’s claim, example of the colonists rebellion, prime example of disobedience, Disobedience, start of the American Revolution, American Revolution, colonists, social progress, act of disobedience, Boston Massacre, American history, demonstration of disobedience, incidents of disobedience Disobedience can influence...

Civil Disobedience Oscar Wilde

Topics:

Civil disobedience

A Reflection on Henry Thoreau’s Views on Civil Disobedience

1372 words | 3 Pages

“Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves”. Henry Thoreau wrote this statement in his essay “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” that corresponds to his book “Walden”. The disobedience he refers to in this quote is civil disobedience that he...

Civil Disobedience

Topics:

Civil disobedience

Civil Disobedience: Why One Should Disobey The Law

673 words | 1 Page

When the law does not seem just it should give us citizens a right to break the law. When breaking the law one should know the punishment. Civil disobedience is an act of intentionally breaking a law or refusing to cooperate with the government. If...

Civil Disobedience

Topics:

Civil disobedience

Civil Disobedience and Its Importance for Better Changes

907 words | 2 Pages

Civil disobedience is the term for refusing to follow certain laws in a peaceful form of political protest. With a diverse use of literary devices like, rhetorical question, allusions, and imagery, authors like Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King Jr. , and Sophocles, are able...

Civil Disobedience Martin Luther King

Topics:

African-American Civil Rights Movement, Community organizing, Protest

How Disobedience is The Foundation of Liberty

672 words | 1 Page

When I was 13, I learned there are certain topics someone shouldn’t mention to other people. The three forbidden topics: politics, sex, religion. People don’t mention these topics for how personal they are but by how controversial they can be. If opinions clash into each...

Civil Disobedience Liberty

Topics:

Civil disobedience

Religion, Utopia, and The Concept of Perfection in Allegory of The Cave by Plato and a Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau

932 words | 2 Pages

In today’s world, religion is one of the most important things that influence the way a person lives their life. Whether it’s waiting until marriage for sexual relations or deciding to not murder that coworker who always steals lunches, many people have their own religion...

Civil Disobedience Allegory of The Cave Utopia

Topics:

Aristotle, Civil disobedience, Epistemology, Government, Human, Ignorance, Knowledge, Pain, Plato

The Negritude Movement in France

1465 words | 3 Pages

Negritude was both a literary and ideological movement led by French speaking black writer’s intellectuals from France colonies in Africa and the Caribbean. The movement is marked by its rejection of European colonization and its rule in the African diaspora, pride in ‘blackness’ and traditional...

Civil Disobedience African American Protest

Topics:

Activism, Cincinnati, Civil disobedience

Stoicism and Civil Disobedience Interconnection

1394 words | 3 Pages

The Stoic way of life described in Epictetus’s Enchiridion (135 A.C.E.) is characterized by a freedom from anxiety and being highly aware of the limitations of humanity. The Enchiridion is a list of 52 principles that, by following them, would allow one to become as...

Civil Disobedience Letter From Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King

Topics:

African American, Anarchism, Bayard Rustin, Rights

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Definition

Civil disobedience, also called passive resistance, is the refusal to obey the demands or commands of a government or occupying power, without resorting to violence or active measures of opposition.

Origin

The philosophical roots of civil disobedience lie deep in Western thought: Cicero, Thomas Aquinas, John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry David Thoreau all sought to justify conduct by virtue of its harmony with some antecedent superhuman moral law. Henry David Thoreau's 1849 essay "Resistance to Civil Government" was eventually renamed "Essay on Civil Disobedience". After his landmark lectures were published in 1866, the term began to appear in numerous sermons and lectures relating to slavery and the war in Mexico.