Challenging Government Abuse: Towards a Better System

1. SECTION 1- in Civil Disobedience • Government doesn’t do as much as it should • If people don’t do anything about it, it will continue to be the same • The Government is brought together by the people but they abuse their power and pervert it. (twist it) • A war is decided by a few people, but it impacts a lot of people’s lives.

2. Doesn't want to get rid of the government, just a better government When power is in the hands of people, most are not able to use the power. The government uses fear and strength to scare people, into following the rules. He says to be and individual first and then follow what everyone else is doing last. Wants to know if the government can decide on a conscience. He says a man in the military is created by the government and cannot think for himself.

3. Section 3 Wooden men get no respect and are worth the same as horses and dogs Other men are likely to serve the Devil than God Hero men serve the state and are treated as enemies Laws that exist are wondered by people if they should obey or strive them Mass of men serve the state as machines

4. Section 4, 83-113: What to do if the laws are unjust. • Obey • Try to change them • Obey until you get them changed • Get rid of them at force

5. Civil DisobedienceHenry David Thoreau Section 5

6. Main Points • If ten thousand people would give up slavery and go to jail, or if they could just get rid of slavery. They would choose abolition of slavery. • When something gets done well then it is ended forever • One honest man ceasing to hold slaves would be locked up in county jail

7. Section 6 Lines 142-177 Molly Ann Defenbaugh Jake Brown CiCi Celaya

8. Section 6 Lines 142-177 • A minority is powerless for it in time will conform to the majority • When the subjects refuse allegiance, and the officer has resigned, then the revolution is accomplished. (If enough people refuse something then the government will change to keep peace.) • Truth is stronger than error. (If you make a mistake admit it and move on.) • Cast your whole vote, not merely a stripe of paper, but your whole influence. (When you do something make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and because that is what you believe in) • Lines 164-167; If you don’t pay your tax bills you will go to jail, but if you pay them you will enable the stat to carry on with what they are doing. (Ex. If you pay your taxes during a war it will go towards the war. If you disagree with the war then you wont be as willing to pay the taxes) • Lines 142-143; You will go to jail for unjust action. (Ex. Robbing a bank) But you should also be prepared to go to jail when you disagree with a lay. “The true place for a just man is also prison. (Ex. Going against slavery.)

9. Section 7 • He was put in jail for one night for not paying poll taxes. • If a plant can’t live how it is suppose to live then it will die. And if a man can’t live freely and use his senses then he will die too. • He didn’t feel very confined when he went to jail because he felt physically free because he did what he felt was right • When the government wants to deal with someone they punish them physically rather than engaging them intellectually