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Civil Disobedience Study Guide

by Henry David Thoreau

Civil Disobedience study guide contains a biography of Henry David Thoreau, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Thoreau opens his essay with the motto "That government is best which governs least." His distrust of government stems from the tendency of the latter to be "perverted and abused" before the people can actually express their will through it. A case in point is the Mexican war (1846-1848, which extended slavery into new US territories), orchestrated by a small élite of individuals who have manipulated government to their advantage against popular will. Government inherently lends itself to oppressive and corrupt uses since it enables a few men to impose their moral will on the majority and to profit economically from their own position of authority. Thoreau views government as a fundamental hindrance to the creative enterprise of the people…

Read the full Civil Disobedience Summary

• Civil Disobedience Summary
• About Civil Disobedience
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Section I
• Summary and Analysis of Section II
• Summary and Analysis of Section III
• Summary and Analysis of Section IV
• Related Links on Civil Disobedience
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• Civil Disobedience: Major Themes
• Civil Disobedience: Essays
• Civil Disobedience: E-Text
• Civil Disobedience: Questions
• Civil Disobedience: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Henry David Thoreau: Biography