Final answer:
Thoreau emphasized individual freedom and passive resistance against government injustice, inspiring nonviolent protest and a lifestyle free from societal constraints.
Step-by-step explanation:
Henry David Thoreau was likely arguing for the power of the individual over the government due to his strong belief in personal freedom and the right to resist unjust governmental practices. Thoreau's act of resistance, such as refusing to pay poll taxes to avoid supporting enslavement and the Mexican-American War, and his subsequent jailing, were key demonstrations of his philosophy. In his essay Civil Disobedience, he makes a compelling case for nonviolent protest against immoral government actions, advocating for passive resistance as the just man's response to unjust laws. Thoreau's works, including Walden; or, Life in the Woods, further underscore his emphasis on individualism and living free from societal constraints.