On the Duty of Civil Disobedience - Henry David Thoreau
Letter From a
Directions: Answer each question with a complete sentence. Incorporate each question into the answer.
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience - Henry David Thoreau
1. Why does Thoreau think that a small handful of individuals can get away with perverting the government?
2. According to Thoreau, when will Americans get the best possible kind of government?
3. Does Thoreau present a convincing argument for opposing a government policy of which one does not approve?
4. How does Thoreau support his contention that “That government is best which governs not at all”? Do you agree with this?
5. If one agrees with Thoreau, who should respond to and take care of national disasters, hurricane damage, oil spills, public education, national parks?
Letter From a
6. What is King’s opinion of the
7. Which people does King identify as unsung heroes of the South?
8. What does King mean by the statement, “the goal of
9. Why do you think King finds the comment “My feet is tired, but my soul is rested” heroic and profound?
10. Although both men talk about disobeying morally incorrect laws, they go about it in completely different ways. Thoreau is somewhat in favor of local control; King supports federal oversight. This is the civil war all over again. Thoreau wouldn’t want a federal government to get involved in civil rights. He would say let the slave owners figure it out for themselves. King would say that the federal government should come in and tell people how to run their businesses. What do you believe in? All for one, or everyone for himself.