Tax Resistance: Civil Disobedience In The United States

It’s difficult to imagine a world where citizens follow laws they agree with and disregard those they are against. However, what if the laws they disregard should never have been laws in the first place? Civil disobedience is a method used to fight injustice in society. In the words of Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” If injustice is not confronted, it will continue to seep into every facet of society. This can transform a once free society into one that is trapped under clutches of injustice. Therefore, peaceful resistance, although uncomfortable, positively impacts and preserves a free society.

In order to demand for a change, most people would take action and oppose by resisting. One may peacefully resist while others choose violence over logic. Civil disobedience is defined as “the act of opposing a law one considers unjust and peacefully disobeying it while accepting the consequences.” Civil disobedience plays a crucial part in peaceful protests. Peaceful resistance to laws mostly cause a negative impact to a free society.

From Cherokee Indians refusing to abandon their homes in 1838 to the Sit-ins of the civil rIghts movement in the early 1960s, people have been using acts of civil disobedience to stand against injustice they saw in their communities. Although there are many examples of people abusing this benefit and causing more grief and shame than progress, many have used it to their advantage to bring about positive change for the greater good of society, therefore acts of civil disobedience can positively impact a free society if they remain peaceful, respectful, and justified.

Brilliantly put by what many deem to be America’s greatest president of all time, Abraham Lincoln, “Let every man remember that to violate the law is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of his own and his children’s liberty.” Civil disobedience is defined as the refusal to comply with certain laws as a form of political protest. Although many may argue that this is the sole way to keep the government in check and to make minorities heard, rational people will realize that it is not this disrespect of the law that proves the democracy of our nation.

It is imperative to understand that the United States of America was born through acts of civil disobedience. And because American freedoms are constantly in danger of being encroached on, it is also important that citizens are aware of the worth that civil disobedience can possess. Civil disobedience is when a person or people refuse to obey a demand or restriction by the state that conflicts with higher law and conscience. The act requires that the disobedient one accept whatever may be the consequence of refusing, whether it be imprisonment, moral condemnation, fines, even perhaps death. It should be done when one’s spiritual searching and sense of rightness permit no other response. (Day 65: Disobedient Friends – Quakers and Civil Disobedience) There have been many instances of civil disobedience throughout American history which have had a powerful influence on the legal system and society as a whole.

Civil disobedience has been used by the people to get the attention of their government and to hopefully inspire change. Civil disobedience is an act of refusal by a large group of people against certain laws. From Ghandi to Martin Luther King Jr, people have used civil disobedience to enact change. While the concept of civil disobedience has been around for centuries, it hasn’t been called civil disobedience until recently. Protest, rallies, boycotting and worker strikes are forms of civil disobedience. Civil disobedience has been used for social change too. For example, the suffragettes, Rosa Parks and marches to legalize gay marriage have had social ramifications. Civil disobedience can be used to change laws, it publicizes important changes but it can be overshadowed by violence. Civil disobedience is a good way to change laws because it’s usually peaceful, brings attention to controversial laws and brings about social change.

Civil disobedience, the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, or commands of a government, has proven in the past to be a very effective tool. In the case of civil disobedience the laws are being violated in order to change a law that is

civil disobedience – refusal to follow laws as a way to form a peaceful political protest in order for change satyagraha – the Hindu term for the practice of nonviolent resistance, as advocated by Mohandas Gandhi; “hold fast to the truth” partition – the action of dividing a country by separating different areas of the government 1. Why were colonial elites just as likely to support imperialism as oppose it? Colonial elites were just as likely to support imperialism as to oppose it due to their Western education and lifestyle. These Western influences led them to be influenced by the belief that they needed to adopt some aspects of Westernization in order to form a successful independence.

In the United States Constitution we the people were given a right to freedom of speech. People have taken to this right given to us by the Founding Fathers. But, one problem rises to the top with a right that has so much freedom, civil disobedience. It’s a topic that we are seeing more of in our society today. Civil disobedience is a threat against our free society due to people not taking our laws serious enough.

Civil disobedience is the act of resisting a government believed to be unjust by the refusal of obeying its law (Kronenwetter 36). Thoreau lets his ideas of government be known from the start by writing, “government is best which governs not at all” (Thoreau 222). Throughout the entire essay, Thoreau expresses his displeasure of the American government’s support of slavery and its practices of war. Thoreau protested slavery in the United States by not paying his taxes, which lead to him spending a night in jail (Thoreau 233). “Civil Disobedience” argues that American citizens should oppose what the government is doing by not paying taxes because the paying of taxes to the government offers support to it.

Civil disobedience is the backbone of all free nations. The positive influences of this act are visible in every aspect of life. Civil disobedience is peacefully disobeying any law thought unjust while accepting all legal repercussions. Peaceful resistance instigates change, allows communication with the government, and gives nation’s citizens power.

Civil disobedience is a product of free speech, which has allowed for regular citizens to voice their grievances with laws they deem unjust. The use of civil disobedience has had paramount effects on our society; although whether these effects are positive has stirred some discussion. Numerous arguments have been made on how civil disobedience is detrimental in a world propped up on law and order. However, peaceful resistance to unrighteous laws can only benefit society unequivocally.

Civil disobedience has been used throughout history to try and change societal parameters and governmental rules. Henry David Thoreau coined the term ‘civil disobedience’ in 1848 to describe his refusal to pay the mandatory state poll tax implemented by the American government to fund the war. John Rawls later redefined civil disobedience as a “politically motivated, non-violent and conscientious breach of law undertaken with the aim

Civil disobedience has become a necessary part of American culture. The peaceful protest of harmful laws is a staple of this free society; however, it is often done out of spite for the government. When people engage in civil disobedience without the right mindset it can prove detrimental to the free society. A society may only be free when it has functioning laws in place to ensure equal freedoms for all. Civil disobedience threatens the society by forcing its laws to be examined, but can encourage more stability by ensuring freedom for all with adaptation of the examined laws.

Doing the right thing is difficult. One is required to make decisions that may not be the popular choice in the public’s eyes. To show what’s right, one must take a peaceful stand on an issue against authority and be willing to face consequences. This is the act of civil disobedience.