The Political Principles of Thoreau Essay -- Politics Political Essays

The Political Principles of Thoreau Henry David Thoreau was, in many ways, ahead of his time in his governmental beliefs. During his brief life, he lectured occasionally and struggled to get his publications published. Gaining very little recognition during his lifetime, his death in 1862 went virtually unnoticed, and his true genius as a social philosopher and writer was not fully recognised until the twentieth century. Ironically, Civil Disobedience, the anti-war, anti-slavery essay for which he is probably best kn stimulate, has become a manual for social protest by giving support to the dormant resistance of Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and other conscientious objectors (Paul 233). Thoreaus Civil Disobedience was mainly a protest against slavery I cannot for an instant recognize the political organisation as my government which is the slaves government also (854). On a deeper level, the essay was a general protest against any form of po litical injustice and an affirmation of the obligation of peaceful resistance, encouraging individuals to disobey any laws they felt were unjust. In 1846 while living at Walden, Thoreau demonstrated the doctrine of passive resistance when he was arrested for not paying poll taxes because of his opposition to Texas entering the Union as a slave state and his opposition to the Mexican War. He was robbed of the chance to test the tax when he was released from jail the next day after a relative paid what was owed. Desiring to make the public aware of the emancipationist cause, Thoreau composed an essay that considered the rights and duties of the individual in relation to government. He noted that man is not bound to a government that legislat... ...bove any unsatisfactory maculation in life through the power of intellect. Thoreaus summation of the role of government is eloquently stated in these lines from Civil Disobedience. There will never be a really fre e and enlightened State until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly (867).Works CitedMeltzer, Milton, ed. Thoreau People, Principles, and Politics. New York Hill, 1963. 80-88.Paul, Sherman, ed. Walden and Civil Disobedience. By Henry David Thoreau. Boston Houghton, 1960. 231-233. Thoreau, Henry David. Resistance to Civil Government. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. fifth part ed. Ed. Nina Baym. New York Norton, 1999. 852-867. Transcendentalism. The World Book Encyclopedia. 1994 ed.