Compare And Contrast Letter From Birmingham Jail

“Letter from a Birmingham Jail” was written by Martin Luther King Jr. during his time spent in a Birmingham Jail in 1963. It was written in response to an article criticizing his movement. Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” was written in 1849 and conveyed Thoreau’s opinion on government, slavery, and the Mexican-American War. These two works share many similarities and differences.
Both works discussed the transgressions against African Americans at the time, and they both hold unpopular views that are viewed in a negative light. However, Thoreau’s main point is about ineffective government and, instead, uses slavery as an example to further his argument. One key difference is the tone of each piece. King uses a positive tone that

pushes for change and justice, while Thoreau is more solemn and depressing. The time periods also differ between the two; King is in the 1960s while Thoreau is writing in the 1840s. Each time period has a different set of issues. King is going through segregation and injustice against African Americans. Thoreau is a time period where slavery still existed, and the Mexican-American War was taking place. Martin Luther King Jr. was effective at helping to end segregation and was influential in the civil rights movement. On the other hand, Henry David Thoreau work was not very influential at the time. (McElroy)
In conclusion, both works have many similarities and differences, and they have been very influential around the world.