...In his essay, "Civil Disobedience", Henry David Thoreau believes that "government is best which governs the least." (322) Thoreau believes that the American government is gradually losing its integrity, and that is because those in power can favor their interests to those of the people. Thoreau goes on to explain that he prefers a better government to no government at all, and he hopes that every single citizen will be able to choose a government that respects him or her. Moreover, he says that it is always the majority that rules because "they are physically the strongest." (323) Henry David Thoreau also talks about how one can behave towards the American government; his government and the slaves' government, as well. However, if you want...
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...During the course of a Civil Disobedience, Thoreau complexitly develops the overall intended message by digging into the current government and basically transmitting the message that a change must be done. To go more in depth, Thoreau not only briefly discusses the current government by stating,"This American Governement,..endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity.." but also proposes comparisons to other governments of other countries. In addition, Thoreau suggests what constitutes a strong established governement and what does not. In the end, Thoreau grants a propostion or in other words a request to create a better established government as greatly depicted by the author, the current government is disappointing in a great...
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...Thoreau opens Civil Disobedience with his bold motto by stating, “That government is best which governs least.” Thoreau advocates for a laissez-faire government that does not abuse the power they have over the people they govern. Thoreau states, “…I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government.” Thus, Thoreau does not call for abolishing government, rather he wants a better one. To create a better government people must oppose laws and regulations that are unjust or benefit the few instead of the many. People must also act on what they believe to be right. According to Thoreau it is not enough to merely vote, rather we must support what we are voting for by actually doing something. Thoreau states that, “Even voting...
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...bold, is the most important man who affected our nation today. His actions have inspired so many to do the right thing. His actions have also led him to his choices as an influential writer. Thoreau disobeyed, he disobeyed the government. He refused to pay a poll tax, believing that it supported the Mexican-American war and the expansion of slavery. Because of this, Thoreau was arrested by a sheriff and jailed overnight. But being the Protester he is, Thoreau used his jail time and refusal to pay the poll tax as a way to inspire and raise awareness about the Mexican-American War. After he was released, he wrote an essay called “Resistance to Civil Government”, later titled “Civil Disobedience.” The essay was written about how tyrannical the government’s actions were and how we were to change things. “Civil Disobedience” has been an influence to peaceful protesters around the world, such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Without Martin Luther King Jr. our country might still be discriminating and racist. Without Thoreau’s inspiring essay, Martin Luther King Jr.’s protests may not have been as effective and peaceful as they...
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...In Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau states, “…that government is best which governs not at all.” (Par 3) He believes that a society without a domineering, powerful government will be the most successful and free. In the next paragraphs of Civil Disobedience, Thoreau furthers his point by implying that society progresses on its own and that government doesn’t aid in its development. Thoreau’s idea of a better government is a government that doesn’t interfere at all with society or over those it governs. Thoreau also believes that the government should act more on ethics and individual conscience. In paragraph 4, Thoreau states that citizens should “be men first, and subjects afterward.” What he means by this is that citizens...
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...In the passage,“Civil Disobedience," by Thoreau, he makes use of an analogy, tone, and theme; to support his core theme, that every man or person has the decision on what kind of government would respect their beliefs amd values. With all of these rhetorical and stylistic devices, he helps the reader understand the purpose of this passage and the usage of these devices. Furthermore, he utilizes an allusion, to create a more better understanding on what's happening and the concept within the passage. Thoreau states, “Witness the Mexican war, the work of comparatively a few individuals using...standing government as their tool." With this, he is referring the American government as the Mexican war, were people in Mexico fought for their...
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...Henry David Thoreau’s essay titled Civil Disobedience consisted of him proposing revolutionary ways of looking at our moral obligations as Americans. This thesis is supported by three contentions. First, while the traditional views of government involved expanding it, Thoreau believed in limiting it. Second, as more American citizens became involved in the Mexican-American War, Thoreau criticized the supporters and those involved in the war, as well as those who opposed but did not speak out against it. Finally, as support for the continuation of slavery grew, Thoreau not only refused to sustain it, he vehemently damned any use of it. First, while the tradition views of the government involved the expansion of it, Thoreau believed in the...
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...In a well-written essay, discuss at least two rhetorical elements in the essay you chose from the practice AP test. Relate these devices to one or more of the rhetorical appeals. Consider the following: What effect do these devices or use of language have on the audience? How do these devices or use of language help communicate the speaker’s purpose? How effective are these devices and use of language in communicating the speaker’s purpose? Include specific details from the text. Two pages minimum. (Double spaced, Times New Roman, 12) *If you create a SOAPSTone chart, turn it in with your essay. Civil Disobedience Essay Henry David Thoreau, an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax...
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...Thoreau wrote “Civil Disobedience” in 1849 in response to issues that resulted from, what he saw as, an unjust government. Civil disobedience is a peaceful form of protest to achieve changes in political policies. James K. Polk was president at the time. He initiated war on Mexico and supported slavery. Issues that caused Thoreau to want a change in government, among others, were the Mexican-American war and the topic of slavery. Throughout his essay, Thoreau pokes holes in the system of democracy and states how a lack of conviction in one’s conscience can lead to an unjust and intrusive government. Thoreau does not want an absence of government, but a revised, less involved one. Civil Disobedience provides thought provoking ideas and the basis for how to achieve political reform in a passive, but effective, mechanism. Thoreau takes a laissez-faire view on the...
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...In Civil Disobedience by Thoreau he supported his arguement, governments being the best by using tone,imagery,and metaphors to emphasize his claim. Applying tone helped his point get across to the people. Thoreau says, "and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have." With that being said the tone of the elected word choice is very opinionated. He wants the people to agree with him. All though the use of metaphors helped him out as well. He grants an idea of what can happen. For instance, when he says, "it is sort of wooden gun to the people themselves;and if ever they should use it in earnest as a real one against each other, it will surely split." What he actually means is that the...
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...Social change is brought about by the people, whether they do so by defying a law or a social construct. From South Carolina’s secession in 1860 to the civil rights movement in the 1960s to Gandhi, law has never been in the way of people demonstrating their ideals. Even before any of the above occurred, citizens were standing against any form of tyrannical oppressor. Henry David Thoreau, in his 1849 essay, “Civil Disobedience”, highlights the almost necessity of rising against those in power. Uprisings can be traced back to almost every major governmental decision and even the start of government systems. By these means, change, as understated as might seem, occurs. The government is a fluid structure, shape shifting and molding itself by...
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...In “Civil Disobedience”, Henry David Thoreau attempts to gain the support of his readers and highlights negatives found in the government shown in his statement that “I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government.” He disagrees with the allocation of tax spending and believes that the election system is powerless. He implies that citizens wishing to join his revolution should start by not paying taxes to support the government. Thoreau uses rhetorical questions, allusion and anaphora to appeal to the pathos of the reader by uniting those with common feelings towards the government. On page five, Thoreau asks, “I hear of a convention to be held at Baltimore, or elsewhere, for the selection of a candidate for the presidency, made up chiefly of editors, and men who are politicians by profession, but I think, what is it to any independent, intelligent, and respectable...
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...Rhetorical Analysis of "Letter from Birmingham Jail" “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly” quoted by Martin Luther King Jr. He was an American Baptist minister, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. During the civil rights protests, he was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama because for protesting without a permit. Some realized arresting Dr. King is the best idea. However, Dr. King did not let jail block his...
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...MLK Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis- w/ focus on Ethos “...we are now confronted by a series of demonstrations by some of our Negro citizens, directed and led in part by outsiders…” In this quote, from the third paragraph of the letter written by eight Alabama clergymen, the term outsiders is used. Early on, this creates a label for Martin Luther King, outsider. Throughout his Letter From Birmingham Jail, King is able appeal to ethos in order to refute his title of “outsider” and generate a connection with his audiences, the clergymen and the people of America. King is able to do such a thing by alluding to multiple passages from the Bible as well as the figures it contains, which is done so that he may identify with the clergymen. When not speaking in reference to the Bible, King makes allusions and references to specific points and people in American history, which allows him to connect to his larger audience, the people of America. By demonstrating his practical wisdom, through the use of allusion, King attempts to strengthen his character with a visible appeal to ethos. King alludes to the Bible multiple times throughout his Letter From Birmingham Jail. These allusions are notable in paragraph three, where king refers to the biblical figures “Jesus Christ” and “the Apostle Paul.” The context in which these two are used is to reiterate the story of Paul leaving Tarsus, which King also mentions, to spread the word of Christ. In paragraph...
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...Nick Genaris Professor Ngoh Protest Literature 21th October 2015 Letter from Birmingham Jail-Rhetorical Analysis Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in order to address the biggest issue in Birmingham and the United States at the time (racism) and to also address the critics he received from the clergymen. The letter discusses the great injustices happening toward the Black community in Birmingham and although it is primarily aimed at the clergymen King writes the letter for all to read. In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King Jr. uses logos, alliteration/repetition, and ethos to back up his belief that nonviolent protesting and disobedience is the most effective means to protest anything that needs to be changed, in this case segregation. After reading King’s letter I, and almost anyone, would come to the conclusion that King is deeply motivated to help against any injustice in the US. Who else would go to such lengths if they didn’t? He knows how persuasive he can be by using his knowledge of the English language, and he uses this to speak out against people who doubt him (clergymen) and to incite a different way of thinking into the people in hopes of change. Dr. King’s letter is extremely effective because it provides an enormous amount of evidence to the reader that he and his company are being treated unjustly and also that King truly cares about making a change for the good of the city. It also re-directs attention...
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