Civil Disobedience
Henry David Thoreau
American author and naturalist, Henry David Thoreau was born in Concord, Mass, in 1817. Thoreau, a graduate of Harvard in 1837, is considered one of the most influential figures in American thought and literature. Known for being an individualist, Thoreau fought against materialism and social conformity. This individualistic belief is reflected in his numerous writings.
In one of Thoreau's most noted and influential works, the essay "Civil Disobedience," he begins an attack on the philosophy of a strong ruling government by agreeing with the powerf…
