Example research essay topic: Resistance To Civil Government 19 Th Century - 692 words

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Franklin and Thoreau With the independence and expansion of the United States, it became obvious to observers in the early 19 th century that there existed not only a growing American nation, but also an emerging American character. One of the strongest aspects of this character was individualism. In nothing were Americans so resolute as in their determination to assert their individual capacities and to exercise their personal liberties. Even though the ideas of the 19 th century thinkers Benjamin Franklin and Henry Thoreau were very different, both of these people are considered great contributors to the development of the American individualism. One of the most important themes throughout Thoreau's work is the notion of individualism. Deeply skeptical of government, Thoreau says That government is best which governs least. (Resistance to Civil Government) The American government is necessary because the people must have some complicated machinery or other, and hear its din, to satisfy that idea of government which they have. (Resistance to Civil Government) However, the only times when government has been useful has been when it has stood aside.

Furthermore, he argues that if an individual supports the government in any way - even by simply respecting its authority as a government - then that person is complicit in injustices forwarded by the government. This lays a heavy responsibility on the individual: to compromise, negotiate, or passively accept is to betray ones integrity and commit a crime. However, it would be extremely difficult for a society to function as a whole if everybody were regarded only as an inhabitant, or a part and parcel of Nature, rather than a member of society. (Walking) Thoreau knew that not everybody was going to follow his individualistic values. He argued that his duty was to set a standard for himself. This attitude can be understood as either imprudent or brave. It is worth noting, though, that a strong sense of individualism and skepticism toward government has served as the basis for many important reform movements.

Thoreau's values are particularly American and have allowed this country to become a nation of relative freedom. As opposed to Thoreau, Benjamin Franklin, in his Autobiography, emphasized individuality of each person as a contributing factor to the society as a whole. Franklin did not concentrated so much on how an individual should behave in relation to the government, but rather talked about the ways one may perfect himself as a person. An example of working on self, according to Franklin, is I with to live without committing any Fault at anytime; I would conquer all that either Natural Inclination, Custom, or Company might lead me into. (Autobiography, part II) Franklin was concerned with the ways individuality can be made better, how one can become more individual. For him, that was possible only by illumination of all flaws a person had.

The more one has illuminated, the more individualistic he has become. Franklin worked out a system, which was his way to reach the perfection: I enter upon the Execution of this Plan for Self-examination, and continue it with occasional Intermissions for some time. I was surprise to find myself so much fuller of Faults than I had imagined, but I had the Satisfaction of seeing them diminish. (Autobiography, part II) As guidelines for obtaining individuality and becoming flawless, Franklin used a list of 13 virtues. Individualism is the view that each individual ought to live according to the values that maintain and enhance his or her own life. People as different as Franklin and Thoreau, despite having contrasting views on the essence of individuality, still agreed that America is all about being individual. Thoreau saw criticism of, and, even to some degree, resistance to government as an expression of individualism, whereas Franklin believed that one could become individual only through self-perfection and hard work on self.

Americans have quickly learned and adopted those values as own, making them the building blocks of the American life and culture. Works cited: Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin, New York: W. W. Norton & Co. , 1986. web roots / legacy /rcgcrit. html Complete texts of Henry Thoreau's Walking and Resistance to Civil Government

Research essay sample on Resistance To Civil Government 19 Th Century