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Henry David Thoreau
Era19th century philosophy
RegionWestern Philosophy
SchoolTranscendentalism
Main interests
Natural history
Notable ideas
Abolitionism, tax resistance, development criticism, civil disobedience, conscientious objection, direct action, environmentalism, nonviolent resistance, simple living

Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817– May 6, 1862)[1] was an American author, naturalist and philosopher. His friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson had a great impact on him. Ralph Waldo Emerson supported him in many ways. Emerson provided a place for Thoreau to live which inspired on his work, Walden Pond.[2] He is best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay, Civil Disobedience, an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state. 

His Influence On American Society[change | change source]

Henry David Thoreau became successful because Emerson help Thoreau spread his work in England. Henry’s idea was about natural. He was heavily influenced by the writer Emerson, who also intrude him transcendentalism. He example by he doing thing that inspired people from this time period. He is the one who didn’t follow the social norm.His idea made him stand out during at that time. He also had concerns about the environment and helped to build up a canal. [3]

Protest Against The Government[change | change source]

As the government needed money for the War and slavery, Henry David Thoreau refused to pay direct tax for the war. Therefore, his started to protest against the government. He thought war were bad things, so it is necessary to resist government.  That led him to put into jail. Although people gave him advice to pay the tax, still he didn’t pay it. He didn’t fear the government and at the same time inspired other people to join this protest. The night in the jail allowed him to started to write Civil Disobedience.[4]

Background Information During 1846-1860[change | change source]

The background in 1846-1860, he wrote Civil Disobedience is anti-slavery, and the Mexican American war. The argument between North and South is South are pro slavery and the North is anti-slavery. During that time, the government tried to compromise with the South. So they passed the Fugitive Slave Act to catch the slave and send back to the South. Later, the Civil War started. The South and North split apart, this was the most serious war in the history of the United States.[4]

References[change | change source]

  1. Biography of Henry David Thoreau, American Poems (2000-2007 Gunnar Bengtsson).
  2. "Henry David Thoreau Biography".
  3. "Meet Thoreau: Henry's Global Impact". World Wide Waldens.org. The Walden Woods Project. 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  4. 4.0 4.1 McElroy, Wendy (2005). "Henry Thoreau and 'Civil Disobedience'". The Thoreau Reader. Lowa State University. Retrieved 10 June 2016.



[Category:1817 births]] [Category:1862 deaths]] [Category:19th century philosophers]] [Category:American anarchists]] [Category:American poets]] [Category:Civil disobedience]] [Category:Writers from Massachusetts]] [Category:Green thinkers]] [Category:Green anarchism]] [Category:Libertarians]]