Henry David Thoreau – "Civil Disobedience" – Flashcards
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In "Civil Disobedience," what does Thoreau think about right after he wonders if he could have been of service to his community?
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the significance of the wall between himself and others
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What does "Civil Disobedience" suggest about the public opinion of tax evasion in Thoreau's time?
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If allowed to continue, tax evasion was a serious offense.
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What is Thoreau's first thought upon being imprisoned in "Civil Disobedience"?
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He considers the prison a foolish institution.
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Considering "Civil Disobedience," why did both Thoreau and Martin Luther King, Jr. engage in acts of civil disobedience?
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to protest government policies they believed were unjust
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Based on Thoreau's beliefs and "Civil Disobedience," he most likely decided not to pay poll tax because
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he disagreed with the idea of it.
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Which would be the best way of describing the structure of Thoreau's observations in "Civil Disobedience"?
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He moves from a consideration of his surroundings to an evaluation of the state as a whole.
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Read the excerpt from a letter Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote while imprisoned in Birmingham Jail in 1963.
One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty.
Based on his behavior in "Civil Disobedience," how would Thoreau most likely feel about King's statement?
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He would agree with King that one should engage in political protest peacefully.
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Based on evidence of his personality in "Civil Disobedience," what effect would a longer jail stay most likely have had on Thoreau?
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It would have hardened his resolve to assert his rights.
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Based on his transcendental beliefs and "Civil Disobedience," it is most reasonable to assume that Thoreau
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believed following his conscience was more important than following the law.
