As we take a look at the history of the United States, impacting a free society has not been easy. There have been many laws that have not treated everyone fairly. In order to impact a free society, many had to undergo civil disobedience in order to impact the free society that we live in today. Peaceful resistance to laws positively impact a free society. Without civil disobedience, it would have been almost impossible to make change in our society.
In 1846, Henry David Thoreau refused to pay taxes as a way to show his opposition to slavery. Thoreau was intentionally breaking the law without any violence. It was illegal not pay taxes. It is still illegal now and one can be sent to jail if they don’t pay their taxes, but Thoreau was doing it as a way to break the law because he believed in the abolition of slavery. He wrote about civil disobedience in his 1849 work, “ Civil Disobedience.” There, he questions why would people obey the government if they believe the laws are unjust. As a result of his disobedience, Thoreau went to jail in 1846. This did not impact greatly the abolition of slavery. However, it was a start. Thoreau knew of the consequences when he resisted peacefully. …show more content…
African Americans were breaking the law when they would refuse to be treated less than Whites. A great example of that is when Rosa Parks decided not to give up her seat to move to the back of the bus. She knew that it was illegal to refuse to give up her seat in order for a White person to sit down. She went ahead and did it anyway, accepting the consequences. She did not cause any violence. Her peaceful disobedience was a major impact in order to achieve a free society. After that, there were many more peaceful resistance that would impact the future and the rights of African
In 1846, Henry David Thoreau refused to pay taxes as a way to show his opposition to slavery. Thoreau was intentionally breaking the law without any violence. It was illegal not pay taxes. It is still illegal now and one can be sent to jail if they don’t pay their taxes, but Thoreau was doing it as a way to break the law because he believed in the abolition of slavery. He wrote about civil disobedience in his 1849 work, “ Civil Disobedience.” There, he questions why would people obey the government if they believe the laws are unjust. As a result of his disobedience, Thoreau went to jail in 1846. This did not impact greatly the abolition of slavery. However, it was a start. Thoreau knew of the consequences when he resisted peacefully. …show more content…
African Americans were breaking the law when they would refuse to be treated less than Whites. A great example of that is when Rosa Parks decided not to give up her seat to move to the back of the bus. She knew that it was illegal to refuse to give up her seat in order for a White person to sit down. She went ahead and did it anyway, accepting the consequences. She did not cause any violence. Her peaceful disobedience was a major impact in order to achieve a free society. After that, there were many more peaceful resistance that would impact the future and the rights of African