Civil Disobedience

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

Research Project: Thoreau’s Influence on Non-Violent Activism

While Thoreau’s work was a short lecture originally given in 1848, its impact on transcendentalism was immense, as was its influence on philosophical approaches to leadership. In this activity, you will research how Thoreau’s lecture directly influenced many “disobedient” civil leaders.

• First, conduct individual research on the effect of Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” on civil rights leaders and human rights activists, and select one figure to focus on.
• Then, using Thoreau’s essay, analyze this figure’s opinion on civil disobedience in relation to Thoreau’s. What similarities and connections do you find in terms of how each understands civil disobedience? Any differences?
• Finally, share your findings with the class. Make sure to provide background information on your selected figure, as well as on how Thoreau’s essay influenced their work.

Teaching Suggestion: This activity challenges students to reflect on Thoreau’s ideas in relation to the work of activists and leaders whose nonviolent approach was directly influenced by Thoreau. Students can make connections between Thoreau’s essay and famous figures they have learned about in their World History and U.S. History courses, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks. Finally, this activity supports students’ public speaking skills, as they must present their findings to the class. This activity may be altered for students to work in a small-group setting.

Differentiation Suggestion: Based on the level of this class (e.g., middle school versus high school American literature), this activity can be simplified by removing the research component and providing students with pre-selected texts from Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and other notable figures. These texts can be analyzed through whole-class discussion, a small-group activity, or an individual homework assignment.