Civil Disobedience is an Effective Strategy to Enact Change

I agree with Henry David Thoreau's idea that civil disobedience is an effective strategy to enact change. Examples of this form of rebellion used successfully can be seen throughout history and literature.

One example of this in history is during the civil rights movement for equal African American rights. During this time period, segregation was a major issue in that African Americans and white people were separated in various aspects of their lives. Some of such aspects included attending different schools as well as using separated bathrooms. One of the most well known form of separation involved sitting on different ends of the bus. The white people were permitted to sit towards the front of the bus, while the colored people had to sit towards the back. If no other seats were available, a colored person had to give up their seat to a white person. One act of civil disobedience occurred when an African American woman named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat when a white person requested to sit there. Through her example, other colored people began to boycott the use of buses as a form of transportation. In doing so, the law eventually permitted African Americans to sit anywhere on the bus. As the civil rights movement progressed, other forms of civil disobedience were used until the African Americans were able to gain equal rights.

Another example of civil disobedience can be seen during the American Revolution. During this time period, Britain had control over the American colonies. At one point, the British decided to place a Stamp Act upon certain goods. The Stamp Act was a law that was passed in which it required the colonies to pay a tax on certain products. In Britain, the people were represented by members of Parliament who decided whether to place taxes. The colonies, however, were not represented and were taxed without their consent. In defiance, the members of the colonies refused to buy British goods. Eventually, Britain removed this law as a response to the boycott.

Through civil disobedience, changes in society can be made in order to ensure a better world.