Civil Disobedience (essay)

Lore & Background

The latter title distinguished Thoreau's program from that of "non-resistants" or Christian anarchists like Adin Ballou and William Lloyd Garrison, as Thoreau argued that their insistence on nonresistance was ineffectual. Nonetheless, Thoreau was initially inspired by the Christian anarchist ideals espoused by Ballou and Garrison.

Reader's Guide

Thoreau's essay argues that governments are typically more harmful than helpful and that democracy does not guarantee wisdom or justice. He contends that individuals must not collaborate with injustice, even through paying taxes, and that the proper response to an unjust law is to break it. Thoreau was motivated by his opposition to slavery and the Mexican–American War. The essay has influenced major figures in nonviolent resistance, including Mahatma Gandhi, who adopted its principles in the struggle for Indian independence, and Martin Luther King Jr., who cited it as a key influence during the American civil rights movement. Its themes of individual responsibility and resistance to injustice have made it a foundational text in the philosophy of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience.

Did You Know?

• Thoreau was initially inspired by the Christian anarchist ideals of Adin Ballou and William Lloyd Garrison.
• The word 'civil' in the title means 'relating to citizens and their interrelations with one another or with the state,' not 'polite.'
• Thoreau was briefly imprisoned for refusing to pay the poll tax.