“Civil Disobedience”​ ​excerpt Name: Ryan Siler

Henry David Thoreau Date: 11/12/18

Review Questions Class: AP Lang
Period: Period 1

Directions: After reading “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau, answer the following
questions, using cited (Thoreau) evidence. ​Answer in at least 3 complete sentences​. Do not use
2​nd​ person or contractions. Double-space, using Times New Roman, size 12 font.

1. How does Thoreau define the best possible kind of government? According to Thoreau,
when will America receive this government?

Thoreau believes that the best kind of government is the kind that does not have to

govern and he believes this will happen when people are ready for it. He shows his disbelief

in government by saying that “The government … is equally liable to be abused and

perverted” (Thoreau), showing his lack of trust in federal administrations. By seeing only

the negatives of government he reveals his belief that governments are just tools of

destruction which is why he believes that the best governments do not have to govern.

2. As it relates to one’s government, what does Thoreau demand of all Americans? Explain
why.

Thoreau demands that all Americans speak up to achieve a better government. He

calls for every person to “Make known what kind of government would command his

respect” (Thoreau) because of his belief in the social contract theory and the consent of the

governed. His belief that the government should exist for the interest of all the people and

not just the few, like it does in its current state, is why he calls Americans to demand their

government to do what is right.

3. What examples can you think of that might support the argument that a strong
government can benefit its citizens? Explain the benefit.

Examples of when a strong government benefited its citizens was during World War

I and World War II. The federal government raised an army to defend the country and

fight off the Germans during both wars and even assembled teams of scientists to develop

military technology in the second world war. The manhattan project was commissioned by

the government and built a weapon that ended the fighting with Japan. This saved

countless of American soldiers from dying in future fighting which goes against Thoreau’s

claim that the government “Does not keep the country free” (Thoreau). It shows the

government being productive and saving lives.

4. How do you think Transcendentalist ideas can be seen in “Civil Disobedience”? Explain.

Transcendentalist ideas can be seen in “Civil Disobedience” through the author’s

clear distrust in governmental institutions. Governments are symbolic of society in that

they are the bodies that makes the rules, so when Thoreau describes the government as

“Abused and perverted” and “Inexpedient” (Thoreau) he is actually describing society. He

uses this negative connotation to speak out against the federal administration and society

which shows the views of transcendentalism.