Question

Based on Thoreau’s beliefs and "Civil Disobedience," he most likely decided not to pay poll tax because
he could not afford to pay taxes.
he disagreed with the idea of it.
he did not understand the law.
he wanted to experience prison.
Answer
Based on his transcendental beliefs and "Civil Disobedience," it is most reasonable to assume that Thoreau
would have liked to create his own government, which would not require taxes.
was unwilling to follow any law created by the government.
believed following his conscience was more important than following the law.
wished to be completely separate from society and those around him.
Answer
Based on evidence of his personality in "Civil Disobedience," what effect would a longer jail stay most likely have had on Thoreau?
It would have made him doubt himself.
It would have encouraged him to engage in other crimes.
It would have hardened his resolve to assert his rights.
It would have caused him to pay the poll tax.
Answer
In "Civil Disobedience," what is Thoreau’s last thought about the state before he loses respect for it?
He finds the state’s industrious locking of the cell door amusing.
He thinks the state can’t tell its friends from its enemies.
He thinks the state is half-witted.
He finds the state unforgivably timid.
Answer
Based on "Civil Disobedience," what statement did Thoreau, like his modern-day successors, hope to make with his imprisonment?
He wanted to show the great unfairness of the prison system.
He wanted to prove himself as a martyr for his cause.
He wanted to suggest that one should be willing to go to great lengths for a belief.
He wanted to suggest that imprisonment was the only valid form of political protest.
Answer
What is Thoreau’s first thought upon being imprisoned in "Civil Disobedience"?
He is concerned about how long he will be there.
He wishes to get out of prison as soon as possible.
He considers the prison a foolish institution.
He wonders why he was put behind bars.
Answered by GPT-4o mini
Based on Thoreau’s beliefs and "Civil Disobedience," he most likely decided not to pay the poll tax because **he disagreed with the idea of it.** In his essay, Thoreau argues that individuals should not permit governments to overrule or atrophy their consciences. He refused to pay the poll tax as a form of protest against slavery and the Mexican-American War, which he believed were unjust actions of the government.
Answered by GPT-4o mini
Based on his transcendental beliefs and "Civil Disobedience," it is most reasonable to assume that Thoreau **believed following his conscience was more important than following the law.** Thoreau emphasized the importance of individual conscience and moral judgment, arguing that individuals should prioritize their ethical beliefs over compliance with unjust laws. This principle is central to his philosophy and writings.
Answered by GPT-4o mini
Based on the evidence of his personality in "Civil Disobedience," a longer jail stay would most likely have **hardened his resolve to assert his rights.** Thoreau demonstrated a strong commitment to his beliefs and principles, and his experience in jail was not one of regret or self-doubt but rather a reaffirmation of his stance against what he viewed as unjust laws. He saw civil disobedience as a moral duty, and facing imprisonment only strengthened his convictions.
Answered by GPT-4o mini
In "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau's last thought about the state before he loses respect for it is that **he thinks the state can’t tell its friends from its enemies.** This realization emphasizes his belief that the government is corrupt and misguided, unable to recognize the difference between those who uphold the law out of conscience and those who do so out of fear or obligation. This idea reflects his disillusionment with the state and its authority.
Answered by GPT-4o mini
Based on "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau, like his modern-day successors, hoped to make the statement that **one should be willing to go to great lengths for a belief.** His act of civil disobedience and subsequent imprisonment were intended to demonstrate the importance of standing up for one's principles and the moral obligation to resist unjust laws. Thoreau used his experience to inspire others to reflect on their own complicity in injustice and to act according to their conscience, even if it meant facing significant personal consequences.
Answered by GPT-4o mini
Thoreau’s first thought upon being imprisoned in "Civil Disobedience" is that **he considers the prison a foolish institution.** He reflects on the nature of the prison system and expresses skepticism about its efficacy and morality. Thoreau's initial reaction underscores his belief that imprisonment for the act of civil disobedience is an indication of the absurdity and injustice of the laws he was protesting against.