Civil+Disobedience-Part+2

Focus questions

=**Civil Disobedience Part II**= =**Henry David Thoreau**=

=**//It is the duty of the government to work with its populous in matters regarding legislation, tax, or other polices, rather than force any policy upon them. When the government fails at doing so, it is the duty of the citizen to intervene or to be content. For, if the people see a problem in their government, and do not make a stand against it, they are accepting the problem, and add to the overall problem that reformers face.//**=

To persuade the reader of his argument, Thoreau uses rhetorical questioning.

“Some are petitioning the State to dissolve the Union, to disregard the requisitions of the President. Why do they not dissolve it themselves — the union between themselves and the State — and refuse to pay their quota into its treasury?” (Paragraph 1)

- This quote displays his argument that people who do not support their government shouldn’t stand idly by, but should partake in matters by refusing to pay their of taxes.

Period 4 Commentary 1

Thoreau uses figurative language as another persuasive technique.

"If you are cheated out of a single dollar by your neighbor, you do not rest satisfied with knowing that you are cheated, or with saying that you are cheated, or even with petitioning him to pay you your due; but you take effectual steps at once to obtain the full amount, and see that you are never cheated again.” (Paragraph 2)

- Thoreau presents a metaphor in order to make his message more accessible to the reader.

Period 4 Commentary 2

Thoreau went a six-year period without paying his poll tax, and was accordingly put into jail for a night. This next quote is an observation he made on this account:

“I saw that, if there was a wall of stone between me and my townsmen, there was a still more difficult one to climb or break through, before they could get to be as free as I was. I did not for a moment feel confined, and the walls seemed a great waste of stone and mortar. I felt as if I alone of all my townsmen had paid my tax.” (Paragraph 13)

- This relates to the thesis because the people should not be bullied by their governments.  Thoreau states in this quote that he has acquired more freedom than his peers through his imprisonment.  Although he is imprisoned, he is free in that he is not shackled and bullied by the government that demands taxes

Organization: Thoreau organizes his essay by beginning with simple arguments backed with rhetorical questions and basic logic. As his work continues, he develops into more and more radical arguments.

In the intro to //Civil Disobedience"// Part Two, Thoreau presents the exposition to his argument. "Those who, while they disapprove of the character and measures of a government, yield to it their allegiance and support are undoubtedly its most conscientious supporters, and so frequently the most serious obstacles to reform." (Paragraph 1) -They are more conscientious because they are already content with their government being contrary to their beliefs.

“Some are petitioning the State to dissolve the Union, to disregard the requisitions of the President. Why do they not dissolve it themselves — the union between themselves and the State — and refuse to pay their quota into its treasury?” (Paragraph 1) - This quote brings forth a good point and utilizes rhetorical questioning.

These arguments are mild and do not pry deep into his overall theme, which is that people should make a stand against their government when they are against it. As the essay continues, the strength of his arguments become greater.

In his conclusive paragraph, he states. “When I meet a government which says to me, "Your money or your life," why should I be in haste to give it my money?” (Paragraph 14) sponge Period 4 Commentary 4

Tone & Mood: Thoreau displays a critical tone towards the people, who stand idly by as their government oppresses them; for he expects the government to do so, but he counts on the people to stand against such a reign.

Civil Disobedience Part II conveys a mood that inspires reform in government.

"Why do they not dissolve it themselves — the union between themselves and the State — and refuse to pay their quota into its treasury?" (Paragraph 1) - Thoreau puts the blame on the people for not standing up against their government.

"Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?" (Paragraph 3) - Thoreau understands that the reality that unjust laws exist, but he believes it is the responsibility of the people to attempt to end them or be content.


 * Patriot Act:**

An act passed by the Bush administration in the wake of new terrorist threats that face America. The Patriot Act makes it legal for the government to invade the privacy of all suspected terrorists: the government gains the right to listen in on phone calls, read the emails, and look up other private information of the people they deem a threat.



Period 4 Commentary 6


 * Works Cited**

Thoreau, Henry. "Civil Disobedince Part II." 30 Mar 2008 <[|http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil2.html>.]

McElroy, Wendy. "Henry David Thoreau and “Civil Disobedience,” Part 2." Freedom Daily. 30 Mar 2008 <[|http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0504e.asp>.]

30 Mar 2008 <[|http://www.atschool.org/election/images/cartoon_privacy1.jpg>.]

DSchlutz EZaidler Period 3