Resistance To Authority Research Paper

761 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The different opinions about civil disobedience

Resistance to authority is part of what helped to form the great nation that we live in today, The resistance to the King and their oppressive laws helped to create the laws that we recognize and live with today. This resistance started peacefully but eventually led to a war that tore the British Colonies of America apart before creating the United States of America. Similar to today, there was undoubtedly resistance to this protest, even when it was peaceful. Today, it seems we are constantly hearing about protests happening across the country. Often the protest start peacefully and with good intentions, but it seems to be increasingly common to have these protests turn violent and destructive. It is during these times of destruction that …show more content…

The divide has left people unwilling and unable to work together, halting the progression of society and creating additional tension. The protesters of the election believe they are engaging in an act of civil disobedience, however by refusing to accept the consequences of the election they are going against one principal point of the definition. Whenever something happens in our society it is important to question the reasoning of the decision, but there comes a time when it is better to build up rather than tear down. If a society has no disobedience it can lead to a single person holding all the power and making all the decisions rather than the power held by the people. However if a society has violent disobedience it can lead to its downfall from within. I believe that Thoreau says it well when he say ¨The government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen to execute their will, is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it.¨ To me this truly speaks to how a government needs to be held

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Civil Disobedience In The United States

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    Civil disobedience has its roots in one of this country’s most fundamental principles: popular sovereignty. The people hold the power, and those entrusted to govern by the people must wield

    Read More

  • Morris Liebman's Civil Disobedience

    1714 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to Morris Liebman, author of “Civil Disobedience: A Threat to Our Society Under Law,” “Never in the history of mankind have so many lived so freely, so rightfully, so humanely. This open democratic republic is man’s highest achievement—not only for what it has already accomplished, but more importantly because it affords the greatest opportunity for orderly change and the realization of man’s self-renewing aspirations.” What Liebman fails to realize is that while the United States of America has made improvements, the United States still has a far way to go before it can be considered a fair country. Liebman also states that “The plain fact of human nature is that the organized disobedience of masses stirs up the primitive. This has been true of a soccer crowd and a lynch mob. Psychologically and psychiatrically it is very clear that no man—no matter how well-intentioned—can keep group passions in control.” While disagreeing with the first example from Liebman, it would be difficult to disregard the way that many protests seem to spiral out of control. Peaceful protest for the most part remain peaceful, however some may turn violent very quickly. Liebman also believes that there is no such thing as “righteous civil disobedience” as men and women are deliberately disregarding laws set in place to protect the country, and regards it as deplorable and destructive(Liebman). To combat Liebman, a new age of civil disobedience is rolling in, a more inclusive type. With various social media platforms, word of walkouts and peaceful, with an emphasis on peaceful, protests are spread more quickly. These student led activist groups are popping up more quickly and are not lacking in passion. Many students of today are tired of being told their too young and inexperienced to be taking

    Read More

  • Resistance In Fredericks, Stephanie Camp, And Frederick Douglass

    1201 Words  | 3 Pages

    The debate between silently obeying the law and loudly resisting in the face of injustice is one that has existed since the birth of this country. Those who resist see the obedient citizens as ignorant of what goes on around them. On the other hand, those that are obedient see resistors as radicals. I believe that resistance, whether it be peaceful or violent, is justified. In this paper, I will refer to works by Frederick Douglass, Stephanie Camp, and Deborah Gray White to show that resistance is important to challenge injustices, whether it be slavery in the 1800s or inaction against racism at colleges in 2015.

    Read More

  • Conformity Research Paper

    592 Words  | 2 Pages

    Conformity means a change in one’s behavior due to the real or imagined influence of other people. As a teenager, the pressure to conform to the societal “norm” plays a major role in shaping one’s character. Whether this means doing what social groups want or expect you to do or changing who you are to fit in. During class, we watched films such as Mean Girls, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and The Breakfast Club which demonstrate how the pressure to conform into society can change who you are. In the movies we have seen, conformity was most common during high school.

    Read More

  • John Lewis

    681 Words  | 2 Pages

    When we think of the word “Protest,” we may think of the events that have happened recently. Egypt, Turkey, Libya and other countries where citizens have come out to the streets protesting their government. Not all protesting approaches are like this. Many, throughout history, have been based around peaceful actions. This approach was used during one of the great line of protests in American history. The Civil Rights movement. Many leaders used peace to promote their cause and promoted the passing of laws such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The many leaders of this movement, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and others influenced others to join the strive for equality. One of these people that they influenced was John Lewis.

    Read More

  • Paradox Of Civil Disobedience

    661 Words  | 2 Pages

    Likewise, violent protests raise awareness in a negative and oftentimes irrational light. Following the tragic shooting of Michael Brown in the fall of 2014***, countless riots shed light on a new twist on a century-old issue; race in America. The man shot was an African-American, unarmed, young adult. He was shot by a white police officer who believed the young man to be a threat to his safety. His death became the catalyst for the modern Black Lives Matter movement’s stance on equality in American justice systems. While the movement places an emphasis on a need for change, much like Martin Luther King did in the 1960’s, the mass riots from Ferguson, Missouri to Baltimore, Maryland contradict civil disobedience. The riots caused hundreds of vandalisms, countless injuries of police officers in both cities, and created fear for the movement. Awareness for the issues were raised because of this movement, but the violent initial spark of it derailed the solid proof of the need for change. This further proves the necessity that civil disobedience is on a free society; peaceable expression of views has a heavier weight when it comes to altering the course of a

    Read More

  • Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience

    1315 Words  | 3 Pages

    While the police may have attempted to stop protesting Thoreau states that this is a normal occurrence when a society attempted to ignore the wants of the government. “Men- serve the state with their conscience also, and so necessarily rests it for the most part; and they are commonly treated as enemies by it” (3). He gives light to the notion that revolting and sending unrest when you are unhappy with your government can often bring you negative light.

    Read More

  • Authoritarianism Essay

    1837 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many countries have decided against having a totalitarian government system, but there still are countries that continue with running their country with authoritarianism. The Middle East persists on having an authoritarianism style government over having a democracy. Theories that prove to be true to Middle Eastern people of how a totalitarian government is better relate to economics, religion, and international involvement. People living in the Middle East want to avoid having political liberation because that can lead to a consistent and stable democratic government. Another reason keeping them from changing is that since their countries aren’t struggling economically, the citizens don’t see it necessary to elect new leaders. The countries in the Middle East region decide to continue with authoritarianism because the fear and pain is greater than the feeling of freedom.

    Read More

  • Golden Circle Of Accountability Essay

    1804 Words  | 4 Pages

    The most basic reason for this is that there is no government without the people. In order for any sort of semblance for government to carry weight, the people must be on the same page in many regards. As citizens of the US, we are all accountable for doing our part to help the government succeed. We are the ones with power to sway the general consensus and work for change. When citizens feel the government isn’t doing its job, we have the accountability to step in and make ubiquitous changes for our future. Right now, our citizens are divided on our president, Donald Trump. This discord among the citizens is not going away, and violence has sprung up in its midst. We are accountable for electing him, as we want to be in a democratic society, and we must work to find the answers on how to react to this election in a positive and non-detrimental way. Much of the citizens disputes come from treating the population as not including themselves. They like to think individually, when we need to think as a whole. It’s like saying you are stuck in traffic when you are actually part of traffic. Lashing out will do no good. We face a conundrum in society in that many people will disagree with the executive work no matter what it is, simply because of party lines or preconceived notions. Overall, the golden circle of accountability gives us a foundation for the role of government. Each area is accountable for something. Our struggle right now as a nation is figuring out exactly what this criteria is and working in harmony to achieve

    Read More

  • Synthesis Essay: Do We Have A Free Society?

    606 Words  | 2 Pages

    One must now take into account the various degrees of resistance and the correlation that these intensities have with their respective impacts on society. I argue that peaceful resistance, resistance that suggests change rather than demands change, is necessary to have in a free society. Otherwise, how can we truly exercise our freedom? I maintain that peaceful resistance always positively impacts a free society, whereas other forms of resistance can also damage a free society. The fact that we can stand on free soil today is because our predecessors engaged in bloody protests and forms of resistance to secure freedom for future generations.

    Read More

  • Vietnam Protest Movement

    1421 Words  | 3 Pages

    People protest because they want to make a difference, want to persuade others to join their movements, and because they want a change to occur. Protesting is very useful when you want a change to occur because it inspires others and gets the attention from the government. Methods used when people protested during the Vietnam war and methods of protest used today reveal similar, effective patterns that are proven to be successful. Leading protests today is very important because it leaves inspiring experiences and shows others who are around you that you think something should change.

    Read More

  • Are We United Today Essay

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    Once again this country became divided and still is now. Political parties formed groups to defend who they wanted as president. For the Democrats ANTIFA, Black Lives Matter, and even some media. For the right there are the Veterans, Right wing extremist, and some media. All of these groups are trying to protest their points, but none of them are doing it the right way.

    Read More

  • Is Government More Powerful

    725 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout history and in today's society, corrupt and overly-powerful governments are not uncommon. This raises the question: Is government more powerful than the people? My answer: Only if the people let it become so. Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society by bringing attention to issues and showing the government that the people seek change.

    Read More

  • Social Control Theory Essay

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    Social control normally refers to societal and political mechanisms or processes that regulate individual and group behavior, leading to conformity and compliance to the rules of a given society, state, or social group. This is a concept inside the teachings of the social sciences. Sociologists named two known forms of social control. For example the formal means of social control is the external sanctions enforced by government to prevent the establishment of destruction or anomie in society. The theory of it says people that engage in criminal activity when their bond to society has gotten weaker.

    Read More

  • Power & Authority

    410 Words  | 1 Pages

    Although they are very closely related, power and authority are two different concepts. Power is needed in order to establish authority, yet it is also completely distinct from authority (Week 9 Study Notes).

    Read More

More about Resistance To Authority Research Paper

Open Document