Final answer:
A longer jail term would likely have reinforced Henry David Thoreau's stance on civil disobedience, further emboldening his commitment to nonviolent protest against unjust government actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on Henry David Thoreau's personality and the evidence of his actions in 'Civil Disobedience,' it is likely that a longer jail term would not have deterred him from his principles. Thoreau's approach to civil disobedience was rooted in his profound dedication to individual freedoms and nonviolent protest. Thoreau viewed incarceration for just causes as a moral victory and a form of passive resistance; thus, a longer jail term most likely would have further emboldened his stance against government policies he believed to be unethical or unjust, such as the support of slavery and the war with Mexico. As an advocate for living a life true to one's beliefs, irrespective of societal pressures, Thoreau's time in jail would probably have reinforced his ideas and inspired him to continue to write and act in protest of government overreach.