Thoreau's Displeasure Towards Slavery In The United States
Henry David Thoreau writing this essay in a moment of anger helped in its creation. I believe there could’ve been different reasons why Thoreau wrote this essay. But mainly the reason was to express his displeasure towards slavery in the United States. He felt that he should’ve been able to do as he pleased. He wanted to influence people to do what he did, to speak up on the wrong doing of the American government. He believed that the government should have little interference with American citizens and what they choose to do. Thoreau says, “I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically” (1857). Thoreau wanted the American government
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This is one reason why he wrote the essay. He was angry towards the government and citizens of the United States. Although equally opposed to it, these people didn’t contribute to the removal of slavery being committed by the southern states. Thoreau says, “There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to the war, who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to them; who, esteeming themselves children of Washington and Franklin, sit down with their hands in their pockets, and say that they know not what to do, and do nothing;” (1860). He disliked that these people just did enough to get by, rather than helping to remove these unjust laws. Another purpose of his essay was to achieve an influential presence amongst the United States. I also believe this was his version of peaceful protesting, because he chose to express his anger towards the unjust laws of the United States by writing this essay. Thoreau says, “Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?” (1862). He felt if a law was unjust, we should “break the law”, because obeying the law would result in us being unjust
This is one reason why he wrote the essay. He was angry towards the government and citizens of the United States. Although equally opposed to it, these people didn’t contribute to the removal of slavery being committed by the southern states. Thoreau says, “There are thousands who are in opinion opposed to slavery and to the war, who yet in effect do nothing to put an end to them; who, esteeming themselves children of Washington and Franklin, sit down with their hands in their pockets, and say that they know not what to do, and do nothing;” (1860). He disliked that these people just did enough to get by, rather than helping to remove these unjust laws. Another purpose of his essay was to achieve an influential presence amongst the United States. I also believe this was his version of peaceful protesting, because he chose to express his anger towards the unjust laws of the United States by writing this essay. Thoreau says, “Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?” (1862). He felt if a law was unjust, we should “break the law”, because obeying the law would result in us being unjust