Think back to your predictions. Which of Thoreau’s ideas were presented in the text? Check the two boxes that best apply.
Which of the following is evidence of the historical context in which “Civil Disobedience” was written? Check the three boxes that best apply.
According to Thoreau, how can a minority exercise power?
According to Thoreau, why would people be justified in not paying their taxes? Check all that apply.
How does your prior knowledge help you better understand “Civil Disobedience”? Give specific examples, and discuss parts of the passage that your pre-reading thought process helped you to understand.
Knowing that civil disobedience means peacefully refusing to obey laws considered unjust helped me understand Thoreau’s argument that people should follow their conscience rather than blindly support the government. Prior knowledge that Thoreau opposed slavery and the Mexican-American War also helped explain why he criticized citizens who supported unjust government actions through taxes or passive obedience. Thinking about the title before reading prepared me to recognize that his discussion of individual responsibility and resistance was about acting on moral beliefs.
Did you discuss any of these points in your response? Check all of the boxes that apply.
Did you find these answers helpful?