Civil Rights Civil Disobedience myteacherpages民权amp公民不服从 myteacherpages.ppt

civil rights civil disobedience political action for change Civil Disobedience Refusal to obey a law on the grounds that it is immoral or unjust in itself, or furthers injustice. Disobedience within a framework of obedience to law. Appeals to the majority’s sense of justice, in order to get them to reconsider and change public policy. Goal: to put the issue on the public’s agenda, to call attention to an unjust law. Disobedience must be open and public. Roots of the Idea Henry David Thoreau Jailed in the 1840s for refusing to pay a poll tax. The tax supported the war with Mexico and the extension of slavery, which he strongly opposed. Thoreau did pay his other taxes. Coined the term “civil disobedience” in the title of his essay arguing in favor of non-violent opposition to slavery. Thoreau’s civil disobedience Key Arguments: Unjust laws require our action in order to work. He advocated resistance: I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn. Normal legal channels to overturn those laws either do not exist or take too long. Civil disobedience effective: if abolitionists withdrew their support of government, then slavery would end in a peaceful revolution. Thoreau’s civil disobedience Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence. A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; ... but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight. Roots of the Idea Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi Led India’s struggle for independence against the British from 1915 to his death in 1948. Advocated non-violent direct action which he called Satyagraha, meaning “clinging to the truth.” Non-violence a core attribute, not just a tactic Courage, discipline strength essential Recognizes the unity of all living things Gandhi’s Satyagraha Different than passive resistance, which is a weapon of the weak. Not the same level of discipline and courage needed as in Satyagraha, and therefore violence is possible. Passive resistanc