Why Is Civil Disobedience Important

Civil disobedience, in my opinion, is necessary in times of moral injustice or inequity. Citizens of a society need to protest against a government that does not protect them. English philosopher John Locke believed that all people are born with “natural rights” and that the only purpose of a government was to protect those rights. The success of a society I believe, depends upon the citizens to review the acts of its government and to speak out against any usurpations against its people. The democratic ideas of allowing citizens to voice their opinions surfaced even in ancient times. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison researched the ideals of ancient Greece, the Iroquois League, Baron De Montesquieu and others when creating the Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. These unprecedented works magnified the importance of unalienable rights that should be guaranteed to citizens. The laws that have been ratified under these

From boycotts to pamphlets, speeches to marches and tea parties to sit-ins: there are multitudes of examples of non-violent protests that have led to positive changes in our country. Some of these have even set precedents for other countries to strive for. Some, unfortunately, turned violent and as Jefferson warned us unsuccessful rebellions usually results is a loss of rights for those who protested. I found it interesting that Jefferson said essentially that a little revolution is worth it however: “If the happiness of the mass of the people can be secured at the expense of a little tempest now and then, or even of a little blood, it will be a precious purchase” (3). While events like Shays Rebellion and John Brown’s raid, ended in bloodshed, and alerted our country, I personally believe more in the value of peaceful protest like in the influential writings of Thomas Paine or in Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s