Question

in \civil disobedience,\ what does thoreau suggest the townspeople have to do before they can be as free as he is?

move to another state
be imprisoned
stop paying taxes
change their beliefs

Explanation:

Analyze the core question

The question asks what Henry David Thoreau suggests his fellow townspeople must do before they can achieve the same level of freedom he experiences, based on his essay "Civil Disobedience."

Examine Thoreau's argument

In "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau reflects on his night in jail for refusing to pay his poll tax. He explains that while his body was locked up, his mind and conscience remained completely free. He looked at his fellow townspeople and realized they were not truly free because they let their fear of punishment or loss of property dictate their compliance with an unjust government.

Connect to textual evidence

Using Textual Evidence Analysis, we look at Thoreau's discussion of his neighbors. He notes that they are only free in a physical sense, but mentally and morally enslaved to the state because they continue to support it financially. To be truly free, they must refuse to support the unjust state, which specifically means they must stop paying their taxes to it, just as he did.

Evaluate the options

• move to another state: Incorrect. Thoreau does not advocate leaving, but rather standing one's ground and resisting locally.
• be imprisoned: Incorrect. Physical imprisonment is a consequence of his resistance, not the prerequisite action itself.
• stop paying taxes: Correct. Refusing to pay taxes is the direct action of civil disobedience he advocates to withdraw support from an unjust government.
• change their beliefs: Incorrect. Many already agree with him in principle but fail to act on those beliefs; action is what is required.

Answer:

• move to another state
• be imprisoned
• stop paying taxes (Correct answer)
• change their beliefs