Question

According to Thoreau, why would people be justified in not paying their taxes? Check all that apply. These particular taxes are illegal. Tax money is funding a violent, unjust war. The crime that the state is committing is worse than the crime of withholding taxes. The state refuses to negotiate with war protestors. Acts of civil disobedience such as withholding taxes are preferable to violent protest.

Answer 1

Tax money is funding a violent, unjust war.

The crime that the state is committing is worse than the crime of withholding taxes.

Acts of civil disobedience such as withholding taxes are preferable to violent protest.

Answer 2

• Tax money is funding a violent, unjust war.
• The crime that the state is committing is worse than the crime of withholding taxes.
• Acts of civil disobedience such as withholding taxes are preferable to violent protest.

Henry David Thoreau was an American writer, philosopher, poet and abolitionist. He was also a leader in the "Transcendentalist" movement. In his essay "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau explains why citizens are justified in disobeying an unjust state. He refused to pay taxes because his taxes were funding a war that he believed was unjust. Therefore, he argued that it would be against his principles to contribute to it. Moreover, he believed this was a crime of the state, and that this was a preferable way of protesting, instead of engaging in violent protest.