How Thoreau, 'the Civil Disobedience Guy' Came to Defend a Revolutionary: The Story of John Brown

What is it about?

Henry David Thoreau, best known for his essay "Civil Disobedience," publicly supported John Brown, who led an armed raid against slavery in 1859. Though many assume Thoreau was a pacifist, he never actually opposed all forms of violence - he just hadn't endorsed it before Brown. His political thinking evolved over time, especially as slavery became more pressing in the northern United States. For Thoreau, what mattered most was that people should follow their conscience, even if that meant different individuals might choose different ways to fight injustice.

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Why is it important?

I offer a fresh perspective on one of American history's most puzzling moments: when Thoreau, famous for advocating peaceful resistance, defended John Brown's violent raid against slavery. While previous scholars have seen this as a contradiction in Thoreau's thinking, my work reveals how it actually fits into his broader philosophy about individual conscience and moral action. Thoreau was never actually a pacifist. This research is particularly relevant today as societies continue to debate the effectiveness and morality of different forms of protest against injustice.