Theories Of Civil Disobedience

Theories Of Civil Disobedience
According to Wikipedia Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws,
demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil
disobedience is a symbolic or ritualistic violation of the law, rather than a rejection of the system as
a whole. I think it is an important aspect of democracy and a free society.
Civil disobedience can take many forms from individual protest that goes relatively unnoticed to
larger scale protests as in the case of Mohammed Ali refusing to participate in the Vietnam War or
get vaulted to that level without an intention for that level of attention and scrutiny as in the case of
Desmond Doss refusing to pick up a weapon during World War 2. Both had to do with the
participants moral convictions based on their religion. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He was a conscientious objector. He was initially imprisoned and his protest was public and he did
not run from his punishment. The opposition movement grew around the country from a few
disparates to a full on movement that ended up also propelling forward the Civil Rights movement.
While Ali's protest was more religious based a large group of those protesting cited the diversion of
federal funds to a war and with the support of Martin Luther King, Jr. the focus of protest also began
to include an upset around a disproportionate amount of blacks being drafted and sent to the front
lines. In this case society as a whole was forever changed, and while Ali wasn't the first protestor
nor the last of prominence, his protest vaulted the opposition into the lime light and ended up
propelling forward progress in Civil
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Examples Of Civil Disobedience
Civil disobedience is an illegal, public and also a form of opposition to against the unfair rule and it
is one of the way for people to disagreemnet the government and minority disagreement with a
majority. The citizens have the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. The people have the
right to do that but they must try to be peacerful and non–violence way to change the society. The
typical example is nationalist movements of Gandhi using non–violence civil disobedience to
protest against the British colonial rule in India (Gandhi,2001). The other typical example is Martin
Luther King Jr. who was using civil disobedience to protest against the racial discrimination in the
US. (King, 1987) The other philosophers such as John Rawls used the justice theory to morally
justify civil disobedience behaviour in some specific circumstances.
II. John Rawls– Justify Civil Disobedience
In the essay, I will use John Rawls's theory of justice (1971) to discuss whether the civil
disobedience fits into the theory and whether the government accepts in a democratic society and if
so what kinds of disobedience are morally justified under three conditions in specific
circumstances? Civil disobedience aims to change the unfair law or policy in ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Integrated some historical examples, such as Mahatma Gandhi anti–colonial movement, and Martin
Luther King and the movement for equal rights of African Americans. Gandhi and King shared
importance moral principles to justify civil disobedience. In order to change the laws which are
basically immoral or unjust, we cannot go to get justice from the political system alone, and there is
no way to declare lofty idea, and forced to defy the law. Most importantly, the use of "civil
disobedience" to fight for change must be willing to accept illegal "civil disobedience" when the
liability to which cited. Not all claiming to be "civil disobedience" behavior has its

Civil Disobedience Movement
"Civil disobedience, also called passive resistance, refusal to obey the demands or commands of a
government or occupying power, without resorting to violence or active measures of opposition; its
usual purpose is to force concessions from the government or occupying power." (Britannica) Civil
disobedience has become a major tactic in many countries, especially India and Africa. Civil
disobedience cannot be characterized as a complete refusal of a system, instead it is a ritualistic
violation of the law. The movement and the acts such as protests that take place because of it are
actually considered crimes and are punishable. The punished civil disobedient aims to provoke the
government into yielding a political or economic change. Nevertheless, ... Show more content on
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This note was a promise that all men –yes, black men as well as white men– would be guaranteed
the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Throughout his demonstration he
never ceased to repeat about how the nation must not allow protests to degenerate into physical
fights. Thus, only Martin Luther King, but million other civil disobedients sought for freedom and
equality with the power of civil disobedience and doing it without violence.
In the final analysis, the topic of civil disobedience is actually prevailing in our society regarding
recent events. Throughout history, acts of civil disobedience have helped to force a reassessment of
society's moral state of affairs. The concept of civil disobedience is not only essential for the
government and society but for the potentially justifiable violation of law. Civil disobedience
remains today very much a vibrant part of liberal democracies and has always maintained a major
concern for historical people who had their millstone in the process of revolutionizing our world to a
better place to live

Essay on Civil Disobedience
All throughout world history, human beings have participated in acts of civil disobedience.
However, in the last two centuries the belief and practice of it has been in full swing and has even
brought on major historical events, especially concerning equal rights and just laws. Three major
firm believers and activists in civil disobedience were Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King Jr.,
and Gandhi. All three of these men participated in acts of civil disobedience but each in his own way
and for different reasons. Henry David Thoreau believed that a certain war tax was unjust during the
Mexican War and he refused to pay it. This then lead to his arrest and one day in jail where he wrote
the essay "Civil Disobedience." Martin ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The person in the passage does not even talk about using negotiations to achieve their goal, instead
they directly refuse to follow a rule which a direct rebellion toward the government. This passage
relates to Thoreau's method of civil disobedience the most. The reason for this is because Thoreau
believed that he had a moral obligation to himself to do what he thought was right, instead of a
government who does what they believe is right for its people and themselves. Thoreau stated this
best when he said, " the only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I
think is right." This is exactly what the first quote was stating, that the protester has an obligation to
himself first and can do anything including directly disobey an unjust rule in order to fulfill that
obligation. Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi on the other hand believed in negotiating with the
government first before participating in acts of civil disobedience and they also believed that
everyone should still follow the rules and laws, only disobeying them if they oppressed human
beings. Martin Luther King Jr. expresses this belief when he stated that, " Nonviolent direct action
seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused
to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to

All over the news these days, we see examples of what people call civil disobedience. However, we
must first understand what civil disobedience truly is and when one can classify his behavior as an
act of civil disobedience. Unjust laws are the motivating factor behind civil disobedience, because,
"Everyone agrees that unjust laws exist. The question is whether we should be content to obey them,
whether we should try to change them but obey until they are changed, or whether we should
disobey them at once" (Thoreau pars 3). Civil disobedience is the act of defying a specific law or set
of laws that one finds to be unreasonable according to God and one's moral code. It is defensible to
practice civil disobedience if one is defying an unjust law for a justified reason, if the offender is
willing to accept the due consequences, and if the disobedience practiced is directly associated to the
unjustified law. If any of these standards are not met or portrayed, than one's action is not civil
disobedience and is no longer justifiable. To ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
To elaborate, if one finds a law doesn't meet the moral law of society he cannot burn down buildings
and or destroy property in anger and define it as an act of civil disobedience. In order to classify
one's actions as civil disobedience, the actions must be a direct defiance of the specified law one
calls unjust. If a law denies a person of their religious rights it is an act of civil disobedience to
continue practicing their religion. However, if the subjected person were to murder someone out of
rage of being oppressed his actions are only criminal and have no justification. There is no
vindication for the disobeying of many laws that do not pertain to the unjust law. If one takes his
lawbreaking to this extent there is no respect for the law and he is no longer valid in his reasoning of
the unjust

Disobedience In Democracy
Will Gage
Wilkinson
English
19 January 2017
Civil Disobedience in a Democracy
Civil disobedience is often not the most effective, safe, or the most viable option, but what happens
if it is the only option. Should people be punished for speaking their voice and correcting an
injustice against them even though it is illegal? According to harvard professor Johns Rawls most
acts of true civil disobedience are morally justified. Although civil disobedience being illegal, it is
morally justified in a democracy because it protects the legitimacy of a democracy, gets rid of
unregulated unjust rule of majority, and sometimes is the only way for a group to be heard.
Civil disobedience in a democracy is often the only non–violent way for the minority ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
I do not deny that civil disobedience is not always the best moral answer but sometimes it is the only
logical and moral answer because in an illegitimate democracy the law may not be on your side and
therefore you must either attempt to forcefully change the law in an often bloody revolution or you
can peacefully break it to draw attention to the wrongness of it and eventually bring about change.
Civil disobedience is a politically motivated protest in which a law or regulation is breached without
violence towards someone and the consequences are

Civil Disobedience
Peaceful resistances to unjust laws both positively and negatively impact a free society. After there
has been enough national attention over these protests, large opposition can ensue violence. No
matter how careful, meaningful, or powerful the peaceful protestors are there has been a backlash of
violence from many different parties. Civil disobedience has been a predominant way minorities
have fought for their rights. Women and African Americans have been protesting since the
beginning of the United States through civil disobedience. The Women's Rights Movement made its
first major sign of progress when the 20th Amendment of the Constitution was passed; allowing
women the right to vote. This feat was only achieved because of the peaceful protests of these
powerful women. And because of these women, an entire gender is now able to actively participate
in the government that represents them. Without the free society of America and the people's ...
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While the women's rights movement was predominantly peaceful, the African American civil rights
movement has been somewhat violent from both sides of the issue. Since the passing of the 13th,
14th, and 15th amendments aka the Civil War Amendments, African Americans were now
emancipated from slavery, American citizens, and able to vote. A violent KKK group enforced Jim
Crow laws that continued to segregate African Americans from white society. African Americans
were forced to omit from voting even when they had sovereignty because of poll taxes and literacy
test specifically for African Americans. This continued oppression heightened in the late 1950s.
Peaceful protests lead by Martin Luther King Jr. took a turn to violence on the protestor's side
because of his death. The Black Panther party ran by Malcolm X promoted a "whatever means
necessary" stance on civil

Civil Disobedience
It's difficult to imagine a world where citizens follow laws they agree with and disregard those they
are against. However, what if the laws they disregard should never have been laws in the first place?
Civil disobedience is a method used to fight injustice in society. In the words of Doctor Martin
Luther King Jr., "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." If injustice is not confronted,
it will continue to seep into every facet of society. This can transform a once free society into one
that is trapped under clutches of injustice. Therefore, peaceful resistance, although uncomfortable,
positively impacts and preserves a free society. The Declaration of Independence says that if a
government becomes destructive, it is the citizen's

Disobedience In History
"If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so." This is a quote
from Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, and a draftsman of the Declaration
of Independence. There are many examples in history where, in retrospect, the laws in place were
objectively wrong and unjust. Although it may seem negative at the time, civil disobedience is a net
positive for society. If asked who the most peaceful person ever was many people would say
Mahatma Gandhi, and they would have no shortage of reason to think this. The Salt March, which
took place from March to April 1930 in India, was an act of civil disobedience led by Gandhi, to
protest British rule in India. More specifically to protest Britain's Salt Act, which prohibited Indians
from collecting or selling salt.During the march, thousands of Indians followed Gandhi 240 miles to
the Arabian Sea coast. The march resulted in the arrest of nearly 60,000 people, including Gandhi
himself. This and many other acts of civil disobedience gained ... Show more content on
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It is important to note that not all of the protests during this time were peaceful, however, I'm
referring to specific to certain events such as the Birmingham campaign in 1963, where protesters
led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was inspired By Gandhi, organized a peaceful sit in, the
result being that many of them were arrested. This, along with many other of King's peaceful
protests helped end segregation laws in southern states. These Events are comparable to current
racially inspired protests, such as the occupying of government buildings or blocking off highways,
although it is easy to deem these groups as violent and uncivilized due to riots in which people are
injured or killed, it is important to remember that these same things were being said about groups
attempting to reach social equality in the

Disobedience In Society
Can a society truly function if everybody chooses to be a "man first and a subject afterwards'? In
order for one to accurately distinguish and comprehend the concept of civil disobedience, we must
first discuss the extremity of these passive resistances and who is allowed to overstep these
boundaries. Our country is fundamentally based on Democracy, and with this the United States
constitution created a decree of secured freedom and sanctioned one's ability to express their own
personal ideology. However, the vision that our founding fathers had for this country's future has
been distorted. With the alteration and revision of various laws, the U.S. government has built an
even stronger and forceful domination over their citizens. When it comes

Fromm And Disobedience
In the article "Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem," Erich Fromm is arguing that
society is destroying itself by not being disobedient. Society being obedient is restricting people
from being truly free. First, Fromm discusses the very first act of disobedience in the story of Adam
and Eve. Fromm explains that their sin did not corrupt man, but instead set them free: "Their act of
disobedience broke the primary bond with nature and set them free" (Fromm 547). Even though
God cast them out of the Garden of Eden because they had eaten the forbidden fruit, it allowed
Adam and Eve to be free from their dependency on God. The second example that Fromm is using
is the Greek story of Prometheus. In the story, Prometheus stole the ... Show more content on
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I think Fromm could have written this in a way that every type of reader could understand his
argument a lot easier. I would like to say that my vocabulary is proficient enough to know the
meaning of what is being discussed, but I had a hard time understanding what he was trying to prove
at points. This isn't to say that I felt all of his examples were poor in writing this article. I like when
Fromm made the point that leaders prefer that people obey them out of love. This example is really
easy to interpret and understand the reasoning behind why this is true. Fromm also tells us that
people feel safe and protected when they obey an authority. I felt as if this was a great thing to point
out and it gave more support to his article. I agree with Fromm on a few of his points. I agree with
his point that it is for people to stay in line, and for people to stay obedient. An act of disobedience
can cause such a bigger shift in people's way of lives compared to being

Civil Disobedience
Disobedience Achieves Social Progression Is disobedience a valuable human trait that promotes
social progress or is it a flaw that negatively ends in destruction? Civil disobedience is the refusal to
comply with certain laws as a peaceful form of protest. Disobedience is like a cloud abundant with
rain, it is always full but it saves its rain for the right time. The people are the clouds but instead of
being full of water they have the human trait of disobedience and they are saving their rein for the
right time to rebel or make a stand. Though some say that disobedience is a negative trait, I believe
that disobedience is not a flaw if it is used in a beneficial manner. I agree that it can ultimately end
in destruction, however social wreckage allows for the reconstruction of something better through
the demolishment of injustices. Resistance is an innate human behavior that should be encouraged in
order to make a difference while having good intentions. Furthermore, civil disobedience promotes
progress as shown in todays society, literary arts, and American history. First, disobedience is
beneficial for progress in todays society. One example of advancements made by using protests and
making a stand today is the Black Lives Matter campaign. The Black Lives Matter movement is able
to stimulate social progress through civil disobedience by using activists and groups of people. The
movement is to vocalize and make visible that everyone is equal. They do this by performing
different movements and having marches and the goal is to respond to police violence against black
people. This is using disobedience in order to make a difference for a group of people who are equal
citizens. Next, today's racial disputes leading to social progress by bringing together races also
refutes counter claims. It can be argued that disobedience does not lead to change and should not be
encouraged because it divides the society based on their opinions. However, that is comparison and
division because not all disobedience tears society apart because it can also be away to bring people
together based on their beliefs. As shown in the Black Lives Matter movement, people of different
races come together to combat a specific problem

Disobedience In A Paradise Lost
Some may argue that the mere idea of disobedience is factually virtue, although, its connotation
describes it as vice. Appreciating Wilde's quote which says "Disobedience, in the edges of anyone
who has read history, is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience and through rebellion",
there see his opinionated response to disobedience being a virtue to human life. His opinion is
important because he agrees with the historical marks of disobedience working in the citizen's favor
which has evoked changed over the centuries. However, in the biblical story of "A paradise lost by
John Milton", Satan persuades Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. After consuming a fruit from this
tree, Adam and Eve become imperfect and were cursed with sorrow and death and were forbidden
entry of the Garden of Eden. In relation to the theme, Eve was disobedient to God's commands
which has now affected how everyone as people live. Regarding this biblical story, it is now
evidence that disobedience is a vice not just for Adam and Eve, but for all humans. Through the use
of relatable diction, Milton conveys a view of disobedience as vice and ultimately reveals the
author's description that relates to the poor decisions that disobedience has led to. ... Show more
Take for consideration the disobedience displayed by Adam and Eve of "Paradise Lost", written by
John Milton, which reads, "For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return" (10.119). This quote indicates
that Adam and Eve are destined to die after the deliberate act of disobedience. Eve allowed
temptation and modest curiosity to lead her to the zeal and envy of God's power. The penalty for
such disobedience results in god striking Adam and Even with the sanction of death. Within this
allusion the biblical situation provides ration to the punishment of being disobedient and the
consequences of such

Benefits Of Civil Disobedience
Civil Disobedience is something used in our country often. Civil disobedience has been
controversial throughout the years. Some people think civil disobedience is harmful to our country
but there are many reasons as to why it is beneficial. Civil disobedience is beneficial for many
reasons including people's voices will be heard, it unites people together, and people have a right to
fight unfair laws. These reasons are found in supporting documents. It is clear that civil
disobedience is beneficial to our country. The first reason why civil disobedience is beneficial is
people's voices are heard. Many times people will try to tell the government what they believe
without using civil disobedience and they are not heard. When they are not heard, they move onto
civil disobedience. When they use civil disobedience their voices will be heard by the government
and lots of other people. They are fighting for what they believe in by using a way the government
will be seen. An example of this is "The voices of those that have gone unheard for too long will be
heard in this moment" (Text 1, Line 14). This quote is saying that by practicing civil disobedience
their voices will be heard instead of being silenced. When they fight for what they believe in they
are more likely to be heard and that will result in a change. This idea is further supported in Text 2
when the author states, "nonviolent actions 'seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be
ignored'" (Text 2). This quote is explaining that when we use civil disobedience we make the issue
larger. Making the issue larger and dramatizing the issue helps it to be seen. Making a huge deal out
of it is going to help their voices and opinions be heard. They are taking these actions to make the
problems known not only to the government but the whole world. They make everyone aware of the
issue so the government can't ignore it anymore. They demand a change and force the government
to find solutions to the problems being addressed. This ties back to the claim because it shows that
people are finally going to be heard and change will have to be made. They will no longer be
ignored and it will help our country become stronger.

Examples Of Disobedience
Defiance, which is embedded in man, is manifested when grievances are present. Author Oscar
Wilde previously commented, "It is through disobedience that progress has been made." Progress,
which is defined as moving forward, is most tangible in the form of change. People, when
unsatisfied, inherently seek social change through channels of communication to voice their dissent.
Disobedience, or willful refusal, creates impetus to social progressivism as demonstrated in history
by decolonization efforts, the civil rights movement, and political revolutions.
The phrase, "No taxation without representation," epitomizes an early example of disobedience in
American history. English colonists endured England's mercantilist policies, such as the Stamp Act,
which exploited the colonies' resources and revenues. Eventually, indignation against the Crown and
the call for independence escalated into the American Revolution. While the colonists faced harsh
punishments, such as the Intolerable Acts, their efforts to seek reparations by boldly challenging
authority ultimately led to British withdrawal. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Notable activists include Martin Luther King Jr., who spearheaded protests and marches in response
to Jim Crow laws, and Rosa Parks, who refused to move on a racially segregated public bus. King
and Parks practiced civil disobedience to prompt reforms in society like equality for the
marginalized and people of color. Some may argue that blatant resistance does not promote social
progress but rather disrupts the government's functioning. Although King and Parks were arrested
for their disobedient actions, their endeavors induced public uproar, the outlaw of racial segregation,
and the procurement of civil rights like the Fair Housing

Civil Disobedience
Depending on what perspective to take on this question, peaceful resistance to laws can have a
positive or negative effect as different stakeholders from different perspective viewed peaceful
resistance differently. Peaceful protest from the perspective of the protesters engaged in civil
disobedience is a peaceful way to bring awareness to the injustices happening in society, while to
that of the government and officials, it would seem as disrupting the "peace" in society. On the
perspective of a protester, civil obedience to them positively impact a free society because civil
disobedience is a way for society to advance forward without the current problems despite being
"free". Civil obedience in a way is a method to solve current issues ... Show more content on
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Civil disobedience, fundamentally, is still disobeying the law that upholds order in society and by
challenging the law, it is basically committing a crime. Thus, in the perspective of government
officials who are responsible in keeping order of society within a nation, civil disobedience is
consider as negatively impacting a free society as it incite other people to emerge and protest, which
sometimes can be dangerous. Thus, civil disobedience in the government official's perspective in a
way is "a recognition of the constant threat of trained troublemakers and rabble rousers aimed at all
times against our entire society."(Civil Disobedience: a Threat to Our Society). For example,
Edward Snowden who leaked confidential information without authorization. He was someone of
intelligence and working with confidential information, but he decided to leak important
government information which disrupts the free and peaceful society, which his action is considered
"against" society as he did not follow the law and engage in civil disobedience. Therefore, in the
case of government official perspectives, the act of civil disobedience can be seen as negatively
impacting society as it is "against" the societal norms and

Civil Disobedience
Civil disobedience has been used by the people to get the attention of their government and to
hopefully inspire change. Civil disobedience is an act of refusal by a large group of people against
certain laws. From Ghandi to Martin Luther King Jr, people have used civil disobedience to enact
change. While the concept of civil disobedience has been around for centuries, it hasn't been called
civil disobedience until recently. Protest, rallies, boycotting and worker strikes are forms of civil
disobedience. Civil disobedience has been used for social change too. For example, the suffragettes,
Rosa Parks and marches to legalize gay marriage have had social ramifications. Civil disobedience
can be used to change laws, it publicizes important changes but it can be overshadowed by violence.
Civil disobedience is a good way to change laws because it's usually peaceful, brings attention to
controversial laws and brings about social change. History of civil disobedience The concept of civil
disobedience has been around for ages. Evolving and changing from the time of Socrates and
appearing in different parts of the world like India. Henry David Thoreau ( 1869–1948) was the
person who first gave this concept a name and used it. He viewed the war against the United States
and Mexico as the south's way to expand slavery. He had already stopped paying his taxes as an act
of protest against slavery but when he publicly criticized the U.S. invasion of Mexico, he was jailed
under

civil disobedience
IS CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE JUSTIFIED?
"The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow
extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment". 1
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. Indeed,
it 's the only thing that ever has."2 History has shown us through the likes of Mahatma Gandhi,
Martin Luther King Jr. who went against the greater power of their time to fight for injustice. These
few respectable men made that difference that the world needed at that time and upheld the very
principle of democracy to its roots. It goes without saying that citizen participation to make a
country's democracy as legitimate and true is of paramount ... Show more content on
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This further proves that such resistance which is against unjust state law and policies are essentially
justified.
Non–violence is another imperative feature of civil disobedient acts whereby the act of resistance is
done without consideration of any extremist measure such as damaging property or harming other
civilians. This element of non–violence corresponds with the public nature of the civil disobedience
that are normally undertaken such as peaceful march, candlelight vigil , hunger strike and the
famous Salt Satyagraha which was undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi and is deemed as one of the
most effective and influential part of his civil disobedience actions in his fight for India`s
independence.13
Anna Hazare is another example of an influential figure in India who has adapted Gandhi`s practice
and initiated hunger strike movement in India last year to pressure the government to introduce a
stringent Anti–Corruption Bill whereby corruption is deemed as the major problem in current India.
The Bill was passed due to pressure initiated by the civil disobedience act which was public and
essentially non–violent and received international level of support primarily from Indian and non–
Indian citizens within the country and in overseas.14 India as the world largest democracy serves as
the testament whereby such civil disobedience act ,provided that it is done in certain measures bear

Nonviolent Civil Disobedience
I believe that peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society. It gives citizens the right
to protest against what they believe is wrong without the use of violence. Although it is not right to
purposefully break the law it is better to break the law in a peaceful way rather than in a way that
could bring harm to other people. Civil disobedience commonly has to do with laws that conflict
with people's moral beliefs. Gandhi used nonviolent civil disobedience to protest racial laws in
South Africa and in India's struggle for independence. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others made
civil disobedience a main turning point of the Civil Rights Movement. They defied the Jim Crow
laws through sit–ins, boycotts, and protests.

Impact Of Civil Disobedience
Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society because it empowers the people to
speak out, it serves as a reminder that government is in the hands of the citizens, and it is the
courageous way to publicize one's opinion without violence. The evidence of the positive impact of
Civil Disobedience is deep in the roots of American History, written on the sweaty brows of the
feather–bedecked Patriots hoisting tea overboard in Boston; and sung in notes of the song, "We
Shall Overcome", by protesters being beaten and arrested at Selma. The very founding of America
was an act of Civil Disobedience, as our forefathers penned the Declaration of Independence,
defying Britain's law and control. Over and over throughout history, groups have ... Show more
This was the case with the great Civil Rights champion, Martin Luther King Jr. He was an
outspoken and dogged advocate of peaceful resistance, but believed that everyone "has a moral
responsibility to disobey unjust laws". He knew the power of civil disobedience, the empowerment
it would provide to the people, and the public statement it would make. Despite all the injustice he
had endured, he still advocated non–violence; even when disobeying the law he stated that "one
must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty". His patient persistence
eventually made change possible, and his moral obligation to civil disobedience convicted the
nation's

Tariq Ali once said, "It was Civil Disobedience that won them their civil rights." He said this quote
regarding the negroes trying to get civil rights. Civil disobedience is the refusal to obey certain laws
or governmental demands for the purpose of influencing legislation or government policy,
characterized by the employment of such nonviolent techniques as boycotting, picketing, and
nonpayment of taxes (Dictionary.com). In three separate cases civil disobedience was used and in
both cases civil disobedience was appropriate. The first case was in "Civil Disobedience by Henry
David Thoreau" where he uses civil disobedience and does not pay for a tax he does not believe in.
The second case was when Martin Luther King Jr. was in jail for protesting for the rights of African
Americans. Another man who used civil disobedience appropriately was Mahatma Gandhi who was
defying the British(Richard). Civil disobedience is justified and is used to get a point across by
breaking a law and protesting for what you believe is right.
Civil disobedience is justified in some cases. When David Thoreau did not agree with the tax he was
required to pay he refused and took the consequences for his actions; however, Thoreau was jailed
for his belief that the tax was not fair. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Martin used civil disobedience to try and get his people civil rights; except he used civil
disobedience to show how much African Americans deserved civil rights just like everyone else.
Martin Luther King jr stated, "Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating
than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more
bewildering than outright rejection." Martin was frustrated that people agreed with him but did not
do anything with him to change anything. Martin used civil disobedience and peaceful protests to
finally show people his point of giving African Americans civil

The Importance Of Disobedience
Everyone has a special issue that hits close to home for them. As you set out in the world for the first
time, you are starting to understand that world is flawed. Most people are shielded during their
childhood in order to protect innocence, but as one goes out into the real world they are
understanding that people defy the rules. There is a large difference between disobeying the laws
that every citizen must abide by and standing up for a cause. Disobedience is important to the
progression of the world around us, but there are different types of disobedience. There is the good
disobedience, people peacefully protesting for what they believe in, and fighting for a change. There
is also bad disobedience, and people defy the rules for the heck of it. Disobedience is needed, and
without it social progress would not continue. Disobedience is important because it can save lives,
and it starts the conversation, but it can also cause conflict. Civil disobedience is important because
it can save lives. During World War II, many people in living in Nazi Germany blindly followed
Hitler's orders. This resulted in the organized killing of over 11 million people. Those who chose to
disobey these orders saved the lives of many. One of these heroes is Oskar Schindler, who saved
over 1,000 Jewish lives by disguising them as workers in his factory. He provided them with food,
shelter, and safety, making it possible for families to grow and thrive for generations to come.
Another example us

Impact Of Civil Disobedience
Civil disobedience is an active refusal to adhere to the set of rules established by the government.
There are copious amounts of people who believe that civil disobedience negatively impacts our
now free society. However, on the other hand there are many people that consider civil disobedience
has a way of change for the greater good in a community and acknowledge the positive impact of it
throughout a society. Civil disobedience actions clearly demonstrate the positive impact in our free
society.
The positive impacts of civil obedience is even believed by a notable philosopher, known as Henry
David Thoreau. An essay, titled Civil Disobedience composed by Thoreau has principles explaining
how a person's moral sense and conscience should always overcome the dictatorship of the
government along with the laws imposed by them. In Section 1 of his essay, it is stated that, "That
government is best which governs least. That government is best ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
According to the Constitutional Rights Foundation, when the Boer legislature passed a law requiring
that all Indians have to register with police with fingerprints Gandhi and other Indians had refused to
obey the law. For the disobedience, Gandhi was arrested and imprisoned for years because he did
not believe in those unjust laws. Though, after he got released, he still continued to protest the
registration law and help non–violent marches. Eventually, this caused the Boer government to end
the "objectionable parts" of the law. Even though Gandhi had been in jail for an abundance amount
of times, he came out every time to start new peaceful protests. At the end, with the help of Gandhi
and his satyagraha (peaceful revolt), India had finally gained independence from Britain.
Consequently, this again demonstrates how civil disobedience can have positive impact and can
change a society for its greater

Thoreau And Civil Disobedience
3. How does Thoreau justify the moral need for civil disobedience? What principles does her rely on
in his justification?
Thoreau justifies the moral need for civil disobedience when the acts and actions of a government
oppose the person's conscience. More specifically, he uses the example of the Mexican–American
Revolution to describe this idea. He claims that people go to war even though they may be against
the morals involved in the war, including slavery, and how even people who oppose slavery are
fighting for its establishment in Texas. He also justifies the need for civil disobedience by saying
that for change to take place, people have to act upon it, not only cast votes or support it weakly. He
argues that "Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it", and that in even minorities can
influence change by stating that a minority: "is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight".
7. Would you describe Thoreau as optimistic or pessimistic about people's ability to improve the
world? Explain. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This is because he believes that even minorities can influence improvements when he says that even
a minority: "is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight", but also believes that people: "hesitate
and [they] regret, and sometimes [they] petition". In addition, Thoreau also argues that the votes and
petitions people merely are "voting for the right" and "doing nothing for it", and further argues this
by stating that the masses of men have little virtue and that: "When the majority shall at length vote
for the abolition of slavery, it will be because they are indifferent to slavery, or because there is but
little slavery left to be abolished by their vote." Moreover, he discusses about how there are many
people that oppose slavery and the Mexican–American War but do not do anything about

Civil Disobedience Necessary
"Anyone in a free society where the laws are unjust has an obligation to break the law." –Henry
David Thoreau
Thoreau wholeheartedly agreed with the idea of questioning a law that many find unjust, and many
agree with him. Citizens that engage in Civil Disobedience are not overextending any form of right,
but are in fact using the ones given to them by their constitution. Also, by engaging in civil
disobedience, citizens are criticizing their government, something that was encouraged in the Greek
and Roman republics which the United States bases the government upon.
Civil Disobedience is remarkably effective without the violence that many had thought necessary.
Several famous examples include the Salt March of Mahatma Gandhi, the Civil Rights movement of
Martin Luther King Jr., and even the sit–ins of the factory workers during the industrial revolution.
Although, many still argue that civil ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Those politicians and inhabitants of the first thirteen colonies that had fought the war against
Britain, thought it important, based on their own experiences, that their citizens be able to question
their government. After the issues with the power of the British Monarchy, they sought out to
prevent another abuse of power and set their own government to reflect this necessary freedom.
Today, people migrate to America in droves to gain this freedom, for where they had come from,
they would have been killed. It is not a freedom to be taken for granted, seeing as it had done so
much for the minorities of the United States, and while it isn't perfect yet, with more Civil
Disobedience it could be.
Overall, Civil Disobedience is an important part of the United States and what it is. If America did
not have the laws protecting those who had protested against the crimes of the government, it would
not have made the progress that it has. Civil Disobedience is a part of the American Dream and must
be protected as

Disobedience
The Statue of Liberty exists to symbolize America¡¯s justice and liberty; although, the unjust system
we abide by displays an obvious account of misrepresentation. Civil disobedience has been a
recurrent issue in our society because many people oppose unjust laws and actions set upon our
country. The government exists to provide good for the people by acknowledging what is in the best
interest for the population. They seem to ignore the significant issues that affect us most and would
rather invest their time and effort into other trivial predicaments. There is no backbone in history to
support the claim that our nation governs and makes decisions through moral reasoning when that
should be of the utmost importance. Although civil ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The government objects to acts of civil disobedience because they believe rules are set, and
regardless of the circumstances, they must always be followed. It seems as though the government
resolves ethnic issues in a quick, swift manner, with the least amount of reside and time loss. It does
not appear as though they give much moral thought or genuine consideration when determining a
final verdict. Socrates, a renowned philosopher in history, stated that, ¡°we evaluate justice on the
basis of the consequences of being just, and it is obvious that happiness comes from injustice
because this produces personal advantages (pleasure) in political, economic, and moral affairs.¡±
(____________) This is demonstrated every day when we see slavery and discrimination transpiring
across America without any effort toward prevention. Socrates also added, ¡°Injustice gives a person
the most profitable life.¡± (____________) America¡¯s government has the ability to make a
difference in these unjust issues and dodge the consequences of a civil disobedience break–out but
they choose to remain stagnant because that is the most profitable resolution. Civil disobedience can
be justified in certain circumstances because laws do not always apply equally to every individual.
When someone¡¯s rights are being harassed

"Get in trouble: good trouble, necessary trouble," said US House Rep John Lewis, encouraging the
use of peaceful protest against unjust policies. Civil disobedience, the opposition to unjust laws, is
an example of peaceful resistance. From the Boston Tea Party to Lewis' "good trouble," civil
disobedience and peaceful resistance are integral to the survival of a free society. It was essential in
the creation of the United States, the advancement of equal rights, and continues to improve society.
The United States government exists to protect the natural rights of its constituents, and civil
disobedience holds it accountable for doing so.
After the 1763 end of the French and Indian War, Britain ended its policy of salutary neglect. To
repay ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, perceived injustices have ushered in a new era of protest which takes advantage of
technology. The spirit of civil disobedience continues to be important in 2017. The day after
President Trump's inauguration, the Women's March, the largest inaugural protest in American
history, occurred. Americans and people around the world voiced their opinions against President
Trump's comments and proposed policies, which were viewed as discriminatory. After President
Trump ordered the EPA not to make direct statements to the press, "resistance" Twitter accounts
were created. Using the hashtag #resist, @AltUSEPA, @AltForestServ, and @AltNPS tweet directly
to the public as public citizens rather than a government agency. Disagreeing with President Trump's
refusal to address climate change and environmental issues as well as his opposition to the Paris
Climate Agreement, these citizens ensure their opposing views are broadcast. Similarly, after
President Trump's travel ban from seven Muslim–majority countries, which was later blocked with a
national stay from a federal judge, Americans flooded major airports. They protested, imploring the
President to "let them [those detained from the seven countries, including legal permanent residents]

Civil Disobedience In The US
What is civil disobedience? Civil disobedience is the opposing of a law one finds unjust by refusing
to follow it and accepting the consequences. So many people have performed acts of civil
disobedience from Martin Luther King Jr. to everyday people. But what people did as civil
disobedience a hundred years ago is completely different today. It is such an important part of a free
society because it helps to define what a free society is, shows the true meaning of freedom of
speech, and shows the government that citizens are not willing to follow an unjust law without
violence. Illinois governor, Adlai Stevenson, defined a free society where people feel "safe to be
unpopular" which means that one's religion, opinion, etc. should not get them in trouble with the law
in any way. Former Indiana Governor, now Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence banned
the immigration of Syrian refugees because of the terrorist attack in Paris aided by Islamic terrorists.
The ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
If the government passes a law there will be many different opinions. When same–sex marriage was
legalized in all states, some rejoiced while others protested. This shows that America is so diverse in
every aspect, from religion to opinion. Each person has their own opinions and beliefs, they may be
the same as their friends and family members or completely different. And each opinion is a
powerful thing. Opinions are what people act upon when performing acts of civil disobedience. One
may not do much by itself but when hundreds, even thousands, of people acting upon the same
opinion do so peacefully, it shows how united yet diverse a country can be. This is why civil
disobedience creates a positive impact on society. It helps to define a free society, shows the true
meaning of freedom of speech, peacefully shows the government that its people are not willing to
follow an immoral law, and helps to unify a diverse

Persuasive Essay On Disobedience
Disobedience has been a man's virtue ever since laws have been constructed. As a progression that
has developed in our society , it is safely to indicate that disobedience is morally acceptable by the
common people. In order for change, people have demonstrated disobedience successfully to
promote social progress, change is impossible without disobedience.Our society has failed to realize
that there is no such thing a "perfect society". There are people in our society who agree with change
and would sacrifice themselves for it through violence and multiple times of rejection. Many
individuals known as the majority simply do not like change. This majority is the group that
construct these laws that we must follow. Thoreau states ," A majority is permitted , and for a long
period continue, to rule, is not because they are mostly likely right, nor because this seems fairest to
the minority, but because they are physically the strongest." Although we do perceive the system as
the strongest, citizens still use disobedience to challenge the system's authority. Disobedience is a
man's virtue when our natural rights are being violated by the majority . In order for change to occur
the common people must use disobedience to fight the injustice in their society to promote social
progress.
There have been certain individuals and events that have been present in our history that have
embellished the importance of disobedience. In the speech "The Ballot or the Bullet" by Malcolm X
states , " Any time you demonstrate against segregation and a man has the audacity to put a police
dog on you , kill that dog ,kill him,i'm telling you,kill that dog." X indicates that you must use
violence to fight for justice.This validates Wilde's claim that disobedience is a man virtue because
once your natural rights are violated you are granted with the authority of defending them .Once an
immense amount of change occurs, they will realize that disobedience is the successful way to make
social progress . With activiste being aware of the following consequences the overall goal was to
seek for change. Martin Luther King jr. was a civil rights activist during the civil rights movement .
In his letter from the

Civil Disobedience In Democracy
Webster defines civil disobedience as the refusal to obey government commands or demands in a
nonviolent and generally collective means of forcing concessions of the government. This has been
a long–standing institution within democracy since it's inception. Many argue that the start of the
American Revolution was founded upon acts of civil disobedience such as the Boston Tea Party.
This sort of peaceful opposition resonates constantly throughout history, whether it be through the
fasting and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi in protest of British imperialism, or during the more
recent protests at several large international airports in which protestors sought to oppose the newly
elected President Trump and show solidarity with middle eastern refugees. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
These violent protests are usually intended to affect immediate change, but rarely do more than
incite rage against the protesters. Occasionally, such as in the case of the French or American
revolutions, these protests create a lasting difference within a nation. It is more likely, however, such
as in the case of Ferguson Missouri, that the local or national authorities will crack down on the
protesters and that over time these protests are thought of as unnecessarily violent and ineffective. It
is my opinion that an aggressive approach to enacting change generally becomes a needless danger
to the everyday citizen. An exception to this rule are those protests and revolutions that provide
freedom and aide to those who need

Civil Disobedience, a term used by many people with many different meanings. In this case, civil
disobedience is defined as the refusal to obey certain governmental laws and/or demands in order to
influence governmental authorities or legislation. Actions of civil disobedience are seen in every
part of the world and vary in severity. In some cases, people are unaware of the fact that they are
being civilly disobedient because they think that what they are doing is correct. In this paper, I will
argue that civil disobedience is justified. According to Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience,
published in 1849, governments are more harmful than helpful. Thoreau states "that government is
best which governs least", meaning that the more that governments try and govern, the more harm
that they will be doing ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Underground Rail Road was used by slaves to escape into freedom. Slaves, people who have
been take away from their homes and families, being forced to do strenuous labor with no pay. The
key word being people, yet these individuals were not allowed to have rights because the
government saw slaves as property instead of the people in which they were. This is why slaves
would run away from their owners, which they were forced to call Master, and would escape into
the Underground Rail Road and travel up north where people of the Black skin color were free.
Laws prohibited southern slaves from running away, yet the Underground Rail Road was an act of
extreme act of Civil Disobedience which set people who have been bound by ties to be free. This
Rail Road gave these individuals a chance to escape into a world where they would be recognized as
a person and not someone's property. Later it is acts such as these that will cause the Civil War in the
United States that will, in time, cause the government to abolish slavery in the United

Examples Of Rebellion And Disobedience
"It is through disobedience that progress has been made," (Wilde). In history, speakers such as
Martin Luther King Jr. have used disobedience toward their cause; therefore, rebellion and
disobedience doesn't always carry a negative connotation. When fighting for a cause rebellion is
useful for making one's issue known. Oscar Wilde observation on rebellion and disobedience can be
used to both the prosperity and the demise of social progress. Disobedience is seen everywhere
throughout history; however, many of the times its considered to be a negative concept.
Disobedience and rebellion, have led to many revolutionary breakthroughs. Any literature that has
been written by a historical hero is most likely, to show and shares where disobedience

Lessons in Civil Disobedience
No one possesses the same morals or beliefs. Morality does not have a black and white answer
because no one is exactly alike. Everyone has their own opinion and right to voice that opinion, and
there are numerous ways of doing so. As a citizen with my own beliefs, I believe I have the right to
violate laws if I feel morally obligated to. The amount of progress that America has made in such a
short amount of time is astonishing. In some ways it seems as if the only way to make any headway
is to speak up. If I was morally opposed to a policy or law I would go against it due to its
effectiveness, individualism, and past history of the world that has made immense progress. It is
important to notice that if civil disobedience was not ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
You cannot base your morals off of a group's thought, because you disregard your own morals.
Thoreau says that, "every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new"
(Walden 1). Thoreau despised laziness and considered following the crowd as lazy and that as an
individual, you could better the world by standing up for your own beliefs. Thoreau claimed that,
"not till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves, and realize where we are and the
infinite extent of our relations," (Walden 2). That quote signifies that the only way to find ourselves
and our own beliefs is for there to be significant turmoil in the world. Thoreau states in "Civil
Disobedience" that, "The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with
their bodies... In most cases there is no free exercise whatever of the judgment or of the moral sense;
but they put themselves on a level with wood and earth and stones; and wooden men can perhaps be
manufactured that will serve the purpose as well" (Thoreau 3). Thoreau is basically saying that the
mob mentality does not help make the moral decision because there is a great sense of conformity
that individuals feel obligated to follow. To be individual you must realize that you have to put your
beliefs before the conformist's idea. The history of the world and the

Civil Disobedience Essay
When should civil disobedience be condoned? Should it be condoned? Civil disobedience is defined
as the refusal to obey government laws, in an effort to bring upon a change in governmental policy
or legislation. Civil disobedience is not an effort to dissolve the American government, because
without government our society would result in chaos. Sometimes, when there is an unjust law and
the government won't take the initiative to fix it, the public must act as civil disobedients to bring
awareness and fix the unjust law. An unjust law is that which is not moral and does not respect the
"god–given" rights which are entitled to every person. A law which allows freedom for some but not
for others, on the basis of sex, sexual ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He boldly states "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" ( Jefferson
524). Though Jefferson and the founding forefathers meant to fight for the rights of white property
owning men their goal for equality was admiral. Thomas states that all men are created equal
because all people are descendents of "their Creator," of God. He states we are all sons of God and
therefore we are entitled to equal treatment and rights. We are entitled to live with freedom, and the
right to pursue happiness. These are our rights given to us from birth; these are our god–given
rights. We would be setting the clock backwards to all the hard work our founding fathers and
ancestors have strived and fought for if we don't fight for equal treatment and services for all, even
if this means breaking unjust legal laws. In times where all people are not given equality, civil
disobedience must take place; we must continue to work for the admiral goal which our forefathers
fought for.
Civil disobedience has sometimes been characterized as an attack on our democratic government,
however this notion does not hold true. Lewis Van Dusen wrote Civil Disobedience: Destroyer of
Democracy, in which he declares that "civil disobedience...whatever the rationalization, is still an
assault on our democratic society, an affront to our legal order" (Van Dusen). Van Dusen

The Argument For Civil Disobedience
The topic of civil disobedience is one that has been hotly contested in both theory and practice
throughout much of recent history. The discourse within this essay will centre around the legitimacy
of civilly disobedient actions and on whether it can be considered civil disobedience to partake in
violent action against the state or the majority. This debate has been previously outlined by John
Rawls and John Morreal, Rawls taking the side of strict non–violence and Morreal arguing that the
definition of violence includes even Rawls' supposed non–violent acts. This essay will have two
parts: the first will give a summary of the argument between Rawls and Morreal, the second will be
my argument for civil disobedient action in stages. I will ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
I agree with his move to call coercion violence and thereby force Rawls to adjust his theory, but I
struggle with the implication of starting out with the standpoint of allowing violence. Here I turn to
Martin Luther King to show the example of good and proper civil protest. "We began a series of
workshops on nonviolence, and we repeatedly asked ourselves: 'Are you able to accept blows
without retaliating?" "Are you able to endure the ordeal of jail?'" Here we see the leader of one of
the largest civil protests in human history asking himself if he can endure punishment without a hint
of retaliation. Why would he do such a thing? Why would he not rely on the thousands behind him
and lead a March on Washington to rival the protests we see in Baltimore and Ferguson right now?
The answer is simple, because such uncontrolled violence detracts from the message, it incites
further violence and gives license for hatred on both sides. This is the best critique of Morreal, that
although violence may be justified, it may also be detrimental to the

Actions speak louder than words in the case of civil disobedience just actions speak louder than the
unjust written law. When it comes to civil disobedience there are many examples of it throughout
history. There are times when it has made things better and times when it had made things worse.
However what exactly is civil disobedience and when is the appropriate time to use it. It is an act by
someone in order to get the message out of something they believe is wrong. In most situations, civil
disobedience is used to fight an institutionalized law that is unfair to a certain group. However, some
people miss use civil disobedience or just have poor timing or no plan for how to enact it. Some may
say that these acts of defiance against the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When you look at civil disobedience from the other side of the spectrum it can been seen as just an
act of tyranny. For example when it came to the situation with those people who held themselves up
in the wildlife reserve. If you look at it from the side of those who they are showing disobedience to
it looks like a bunch of wild people who have no connection with the farmers who are in jail which
is the reason for the whole event if I were the government this would not make me want to hear you
out it just proves that the law is right. There is also the fact that the farmers own family didn't want
anything to do with the protesters as their lawyer says, "the family wants nothing to do with this"
(times). In order to get someone's attention you need to be collected this is not the case with some
people when they enact an act of civil disobedience for example the way Antigone went at Creon ,
"Let that be your excuse I'm going now to make a burial mound for my dear brother... I'll hate you if
you're going talk that way so leave me and my foolishness along"(line 100–110). My point is that
everyone deserves respect and that I can see why some see civil disobedience as a nuisance. They
have many problems and they are trying their hardest to make sure everyone gets fair treatment but
they must feel very disrespected that the people they are trying to protect revolt and treat

Mlk Civil Disobedience
MLK's Civil Disobedience in Todays World In Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham
Jail," he discusses the duty of citizens to enact civil disobedience when there are immoral actions or
laws put into place. In accordance with Martin Luther King, Jr. this concept applies to our society
today with the recent presidential election of the United States of America. As Donald Trump has
been elected the President of the United States, there have been various acts of civil disobedience
because millions of individuals do not support him in his presidency. Along with this topic, there are
two distinct questions that need to be answered. First, what is civil disobedience in the eyes of
Martin Luther King, Jr.? Second, are Donald Trump protests ... Show more content on
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This has been a massive concern for many anti–Trump protestors because they believe that Hillary
Clinton should have won because she won the popular vote. Even though Clinton won the popular
vote, Trump won the Electoral College, which is why he was elected President of the United States.
As King stated, "We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of
destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly." (King, 1963). This quote applies
perfectly for our countries current status because all of the voters who do not support Trump are tied
to him and his decisions for the next four years. With King's view of civil disobedience, these
protestors are not justified in their protesting of Trump because a process that has been used for
hundreds of years elected him legally. In order for these protestors to civilly disobey in unison with
King's views, they must protest the Electoral College and not the man that the Electoral College
elected. Individuals may not agree with Trump being elected, but until he advocates an immoral
political action they must not protest against him directly. Part of King's beliefs includes him being a
Christian and obeying the laws of the land. For anybody who is elected legally to become President
of the United States, those that follow King's views are subject to obeying the governing authority as
they are in accordance with the laws of God. As King states in his letter, "A just law is a man–made
code that squares with the moral law, or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of
harmony with the moral law." (King, 1963). This means that it is not justified for anti–Trump
protestors to protest out of anger that their candidate of the popular vote did not win because it is in
accordance with the authority of the government, which has been in place for

Civil Disobedience Argument
Practice Essay: Civil Disobedience Argument
Answer the following question in your essay: Is civil disobedience a moral responsibility of the
citizen? Make sure to review the parts of an argument on p.178 and include those elements in your
own writing. You do not have to conduct research on this issue; you are to use the three texts we've
read so far, as well as any real–life example that will clarify your position. (See p. 179 for full
writing prompt and directions.)
Name: Javier Saavedra
Date: 1/30/18
Period:
Type your essay here:
Javier Saavedra
English 10
Cynthia Merrick
January 30, 2018
Civil Disobedience, Moral Responsibility of a Citizen? Yes, civil disobedience is a moral
responsibility of a citizen because, if a large group of people do not agree with a law because it is
random, illogical or suppressive then it falls on them to provoke a change. Civil disobedience varies
from person to person because everyone has different definitions of right and wrong. In order to be
civilly disobedient you must have the right intentions at the beginning of your actions. In India's
situation it was ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Gandhi was a huge reason Britain left India. A point that Gandhi made for being civilly disobedient
was satyagraha and it is insistence on truth, a way of reform with nonviolent actions. "One who
resorts to it does not have to break another's head; he may merely have his own head broken. He has
to be prepared to die himself suffering all the pain" (Civil Disobedience). This is a form of
countering an unjust law with civil disobedience because you are breaking that law, peacefully and
provoking a response from the government. You are not performing a violent action that causes
harm. Thus provoking a response from the government means it is working, and not fighting back
will inspire more everyday people to see the good in your acts due to the unjust ruling of the

Civil Disobedience
Throughout history there are many people that have committed peaceful resistance. These certain
"heroes" of history, if you'd like, have changed our views on obedience to laws.
In my opinion, peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society. The whole point of a
"free society" is where the people have a say and are able to stand up for what they believe in. If a
law seems unjust to them, they should have the right to protest it or disobey it, as long as it is done
peacefully. Martin Luther King is one of the most influential leaders in history. Without his non–
violent protests and civil disobedience, the unjust laws of segregation might still be in place. One of
my favorite quotes from MLK's "Letter From Birmingham Jail" is when ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
If there is injustice in a society somewhere, it can cause a threat to justice everywhere else. With the
segregation issue that MLK was addressing in his letter, the injustice of the law threatened the
justice of black people all over the country. Another hero in the time of segregation is Rosa Parks.
"You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right." Her quote, presented here,
shows that when you are fighting for a common justice to get equality throughout the country, you
can't be afraid and you can't back down. When you are battling a prejudice, like Rosa Parks and
MLK had to do, you need to be fearless and you need to be willing to go against the law to benefit
the people who are believed to be "inferior". In order to benefit the public, you have to first admit
that there is a problem and why you are willing to fix it. A great quote by David Thoreau states,
"But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no–government men, I
ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known
what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it."
Civil

Theories Of Civil Disobedience

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Theories Of Civil Disobedience