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“Civil Disobedience” Or “Resistance to Civil Government” Henry David Thoreau

Nate Sievert , Sam Urban, Jamie Doucette P.2. “Civil Disobedience” Or “Resistance to Civil Government” Henry David Thoreau. Background: Henry David Thoreau. Born on July 12, 1817 in Concord, MA Philosopher and Transcendentalist Opposed slavery and Mexican-American War

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“Civil Disobedience” Or “Resistance to Civil Government” Henry David Thoreau

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  1. Nate Sievert, Sam Urban, Jamie Doucette P.2 “Civil Disobedience”Or “Resistance to Civil Government”Henry David Thoreau

  2. Background: Henry David Thoreau • Born on July 12, 1817 in Concord, MA • Philosopher and Transcendentalist • Opposed slavery and Mexican-American War • Lived “simply” in the forest for over two years starting in 1845 • Arrested for dodging Poll Tax in 1846 (Inspiration for Civil Disobedience)

  3. Purpose • Express personal views against government • Disapproval of slavery and Mexican War • Encourage people to speak for what they believe in • Restrict governmental control

  4. Argument • Government does not represent the people • People should have more power and political voice • Refusal to allow government to remain unjust • Personal Example: Refusal to pay state poll taxes

  5. Persona • Tone is serious and confident • Motivational and meaningful • Conveys Thoreau’s critical personality • Language is direct and logical

  6. Audience • Essay intended for American middle class and working class • The “common citizens” of America (small farmers, merchants, artisans) • People who feel misrepresented by their government • Not intended for the wealthy upper class (plantation owners)

  7. Language • 1: Rhetorical Questions (questions posed to affirm or deny a point) • 2: Allusions (reference to something commonly known) • 3: Anaphora (repetition of the first phrase) • 4: Metaphoric Descriptions (implied comparison)

  8. 1: Rhetorical Questions • “Why is [the government] not more apt to anticipate and provide for reform? Why does it not cherish its wise minority? Why does it cry and resist before it is hurt?” ¶ 6 • Thoreau is addressing the audience directly • Forces audience to assess their own satisfaction with the American government • Appeals to an audience’s common sense (logos)

  9. 2: Allusions • “I heartily accept the motto, - ‘That government is best which governs least’ “ ¶ 1 • Well-known saying at the time, often attributed to Thomas Jefferson. Motto of the New York Democratic Review. (ethos) • “Why does [the government] crucify Christ and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther, and pronounce Washington and Franklin rebels?” ¶ 4 • Allusion to the Protestant Reformation and Thirty Year’s War in Europe during the 16th century (pathos) • Used as a comparative tool to appeal to audience’s emotions (compares an unknown subject to one that is more familiar)

  10. 3: Anaphora • “It does not keep the country free. It does not settle the West. It does not educate.” ¶ 2 • Government is referred to as “it” to denounce its shortcomings • List of failures emphasizes Thoreau’s dissatisfaction • Appeals to audience’s common sense and emotion (logos and pathos)

  11. 4: Metaphoric Description • “Trade and commerce, if they were not made of India-rubber, would never manage to bounce over obstacles which legislators are continuously putting in their way…” ¶ 2 • Thoreau wants people to view legislators as obstacles to trade and commerce • Simplifies his cause for discontent • Appeals to audience’s common sense (logos)

  12. “The Rights of the People to Rule” • Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 • Declared people have a right to choose how they want to be governed • Government should be more democratic • Thoreau wanted to restrict government control, whereas Roosevelt just wanted more representation • Both had similar style, language, and tone

  13. “On the Eve of Historic Dandi March” • Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 • The purpose was similar to that of Thoreau’s, to get citizens to be active and not passive in the face of government. • Gandhi, called for peaceful and nonviolent protests against government. • Both speeches made this “civil disobedience” publicly known. Thoreau and Gandhi were aware that they would be arrested. • Each speech manages to create a similar tone of seriousness to urge their audiences to oppose government.

  14. “Architects” • By Rise Against (Written by Tim McIlrath) • Intended to call attention to the growing apathy of the American people • Both the song and Civil Disobedience employ rhetorical questions to directly address their audiences • Both authors identify themselves as examples of pursuing the alternative viewpoint “Do you care to be the layer / Of the bricks that seal your fate? Or would you rather be the architects/ of what we might create?”

  15. What do you think? • Do you agree with Thoreau? Is it ever acceptable to resist government control? If so, under what circumstances? • Was Thoreau justified in his refusal to pay the poll tax? • What are some of the benefits and detriments of less government control? • What are potential problems with a system of pure democracy? • How did Thoreau capture his audience? • What were the most persuasive devices that he employed?

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