Civil Disobedience Rhetorical Analysis

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Non-violent civil disobedience occurs when the refusal to obey certain laws or governmental demands for the purpose of influencing legislation or government policy is characterized by the employment of techniques such as boycotting, picketing, and the nonpayment of taxes. Henry David Thoreau, author of “Civil Disobedience,” participated in a form of non-violent civil disobedience which involved a simple action of rebellion resulting in a night at prison. Thoreau’s essay and the march from Selma to Montgomery led by Martin Luther King Jr., both had the same outlook on unjust laws, the courage to act against the government, and the awareness of the consequences due to their actions. 100 years after the finalization of the Civil War, African …show more content…

Many marchers were critical of King’s unexpected decision to push on to Montgomery. President Johnson, issued a public statement: ‘‘Americans everywhere join in deploring the brutality with which a number of Negro citizens of Alabama were treated when they sought to dramatize their deep and sincere interest in attaining the precious right to vote’’ (Johnson, ‘‘Statement by the President,’’ 272). Johnson assured to introduce a voting rights bill to Congress within a few days. On May 15th, in a televised address to a joint session of Congress, Johnson compared the events in Selma to the events in Lexington and Concord during the Revolutionary War. He then proceeded to unveil his voting rights bill to the legislators and the nation. That August, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act, which suspended the use of literacy tests as a requirement for voter registration and guaranteed the right to vote. The passage of the law also encouraged Johnson, King, and other activists to think more sincerely about tackling other pressing issues, which divide Americans along racial …show more content…

Thoreau believed that taxes shouldn’t be paid because they were specifically aiding the Mexican-American War, which he deeply opposed as well as slavery. Because of his actions, he was sent to jail to face his consequences. While in jail, Thoreau wrote a famous essay known as, “Civil Disobedience." Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience," expresses the need to emphasize conscience over law. It criticizes American institutions and policies, and mostly focuses on slavery and the Mexican-American

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