Civil Disobedience and the Abusive Power of Government Essay -- Thorea

Civil Disobedience and the Abusive world-beater of Government In response to the annexation of Texas in 1845 by the get together States, Henry David Thoreaus wrote the prove, Civil Disobedience. Thoreau felt that this purely economic move by the United States expedited the Civil War, which he, and many Ameri drive outs, disapproved of. In his essay, Thoreau argues that government should not be in control of the people and that the people should be able to restrain themselves freely however they please. In addition, he intelligibly call forths and tapers out that in many instances it is scoop out when individual rights take priority over state authority. Very often, the best authors, whether it be of a novel or an essay, clearly state their opinions and facts using various literary techniques and devices. From reading other Thoreau works, such as excerpts from Walden and Excursions, I was able to infer that he has his own unique, queer writing style. Most ordinary and bana l writers start their essays with long, tedious descriptions of the point they atomic number 18 trying to convey. But like all great writers and thinkers, Thoreau begins his essay with a strong, captivating sentence That government is best which governs least (222). Thoreaus curtain raising line grabs and lets the reader know what topic(s) the essay will be discussing. As it turns out, this opening sentence is the basis for the rest of his essay as he encourages individuals to take responsibility for keeping the government in constant check. He believes that the best way for a country and its people to survive is if individuals are willing to exert control over the government and not be ruled like sheep. Part of Thoreaus writing style includes using examples to rationalise his op... ...are fighting for. When he talks about the evils of bondage, Thoreau states that When the majority shall at distance balloting for the abolition of slavery, it will be because they are indiffer ent to slavery, or because there is but little slavery left to be abolished by their vote. They will then be the only slaves. Only his vote can hasten the abolition of slavery who asserts his own freedom by his vote (226). As a dedicated abolitionist, he believes that only individuals hold the effect to end slavery. He thinks that you cannot depend on the government to stop slavery because it thinks as a whole, and not as individuals. As he concludes his essay, Thoreaus principal(prenominal) point is that individual power should be greater than that of the government. Thoreaus observation, That government is best which governs least continues to be as true to daylight as the day it was written.