

“Civil Disobedience” By Henry David Thoreau
“Unjust laws exist”
1. Shall we be content to obey them
a. [Though the laws are unjust, obey them because the government has established them as legal]
2. Shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded
a. [Though the laws are unjust, obey them until they are voted out]
3. Shall we transgress them at once
a. [Because the laws are unjust, peacefully disobey them as a movement for change]
19th century American philosopher Henry David Thoreau argued that citizens should peacefully protest the unjust laws sanctioned by the government. He called those peaceful protestors the Wise Minority.
The Wise Minority Should
a. Identify unjust laws that are established by the government
b. Peacefully protest unjust laws
c. Willingly accept the consequences for protesting unjust laws.