Civil Disobedience: Civil Disobedience: Historical PerspectiveHistorical Perspective

Civil Disobedience: 1849Civil Disobedience: 1849 California Gold Rush: 1849California Gold Rush: 1849 Huckleberry Finn: 1884Huckleberry Finn: 1884 Celia’s Trial: 1855Celia’s Trial: 1855 Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: 1862Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: 1862 American Transcendentalism: ~1836-American Transcendentalism: ~1836-

18561856 Narrative: Frederick Douglass: 1845Narrative: Frederick Douglass: 1845 Uncle Tom’s Cabin: 1852Uncle Tom’s Cabin: 1852

Article VI, U.S. Article VI, U.S. ConstitutionConstitution

Section ii:Section ii:

This ConstitutionThis Constitution, and the Laws of the , and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, the United States, shall be the supreme shall be the supreme Law of the LandLaw of the Land; and the Judges in every ; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding. Contrary notwithstanding.

The First AmendmentThe First Amendment

Congress shall make no law Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of government for a redress of grievances.grievances.

This is great!This is great!

Freedom Freedom

Is What You Make Of It…Is What You Make Of It…

As Long As You’re Obeying As Long As You’re Obeying

The Rules.The Rules.~ Erin Cassidy~ Erin Cassidy

What Would Thoreau Say About This?What Would Thoreau Say About This?

Connections…Connections…

What initial connections can you make What initial connections can you make to materials that we’ve read/discussed to materials that we’ve read/discussed thus far?thus far?

What is significant about these What is significant about these connections?connections?

Initial reaction: Do you think Thoreau’s Initial reaction: Do you think Thoreau’s position to be valid…or unrealistic?position to be valid…or unrealistic?

Do you agree or disagree with Do you agree or disagree with Thoreau’s position?Thoreau’s position?

Key Points…pages 1-6Key Points…pages 1-6 That government is best which governs That government is best which governs

least…least… We should be men first, and subjects We should be men first, and subjects

afterward…afterward… I cannot for an instant recognize a I cannot for an instant recognize a

government…which is the slave’s government…which is the slave’s government also…government also…

After the first blush of sin comes its After the first blush of sin comes its indifference…indifference…

Unjust laws exist…Unjust laws exist… A minority is powerless while it conforms to A minority is powerless while it conforms to

the majority…the majority…

More Key Points…More Key Points… The rich man is always sold to the The rich man is always sold to the

institution that makes him rich…institution that makes him rich… ……majority is most likely to be in the majority is most likely to be in the

right…because the are physically the right…because the are physically the strongest…strongest…

For it matters not how small the For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is beginning may seem to be: what is once done well is done forever…once done well is done forever…

I was not born to be forced…I was not born to be forced…

Civil Disobedience Study Civil Disobedience Study Questions: Questions:

1. Is Thoreau’s concept of civil disobedience compatible with 1. Is Thoreau’s concept of civil disobedience compatible with

democratic government?democratic government?

2. Is compromise on moral issues a necessary part of living 2. Is compromise on moral issues a necessary part of living with other people?with other people?

3. Thoreau asks somewhat rhetorically, “Must the citizen 3. Thoreau asks somewhat rhetorically, “Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator?” Why or why not?conscience to the legislator?” Why or why not?

4. Which, if any, of Thoreau’s ideas are valuable in the 4. Which, if any, of Thoreau’s ideas are valuable in the context of political activism?context of political activism?

5. According to Thoreau, why do unjust laws exist?5. According to Thoreau, why do unjust laws exist?

6. What do you think Thoreau’s message is when he writes, 6. What do you think Thoreau’s message is when he writes, “After the first blush of sin comes indifference?”“After the first blush of sin comes indifference?”

77. Why does Thoreau think that the rich are least . Why does Thoreau think that the rich are least likely to practice civil disobedience?likely to practice civil disobedience?

8.. Is Thoreau an optimist or a pessimist? How so?8.. Is Thoreau an optimist or a pessimist? How so?

9. According to Thoreau, why do unjust laws exist?9. According to Thoreau, why do unjust laws exist?

10. How do you think Thoreau would handle the 10. How do you think Thoreau would handle the elephant and mouse metaphor?elephant and mouse metaphor?

11. What do you think Thoreau’s message is when he 11. What do you think Thoreau’s message is when he writes, “After the first blush of sin comes writes, “After the first blush of sin comes indifference?”indifference?”

12. Do you think the concepts held by 12. Do you think the concepts held by Transcendentalists like Thoreau have validity Transcendentalists like Thoreau have validity today?today?