Civil Disobedience WebQuest

Introduction

Introduction

Thoreau wrote, “All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable." He coined the term "civil disobedience" in his essay by the same name. His ideas have influenced many leaders, from Ghandi to Martin Luther King, Jr. During this webquest, students will have a chance to study modern examples of civil disobedience, and modern activist groups.

 

What is civil disobedience?

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau tried to escape his society. Sick of having to pay taxes for an unjust war, he moved out to the woods. He built himself a home, and wrote the piece we read in class (Walden). When the town tax man finally caught up to Thoreau, he was sent to jail for one night. The next morning he was freed when his aunt paid his bail.

Thoreau was an abolitionist, did not believe in war, and coined the term Civil disobedience. Civil disobedience is defined as "the active refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of a government, or of an occupying power. It is one of the primary methods of nonviolent resistance" (wikipedia.org).

Ghandi practiced non-violent civil disobedience to successfully fight colonialism in India: "Civil disobedience is the inherent right of a citizen to be civil, implies discipline, thought, care, attention and sacrifice" (wikipedia.org).

In 1849, there was much to rebel against in the United States, and Thoreau argued against slavery. Thoreau wrote about the need for civil disobedience to change the dominant power structure:

"How does it become a man to behave toward this American government to-day? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it. I cannot for an instant recognize that political organization as my government which is the slave's government also."

"...when a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize. What makes this duty the more urgent is the fact that the country so overrun is not our own, but ours is the invading army."

What issues in today's society have you seen people rebel against? What issues would you rebel against?

Task

Task

During this webquest, please consider these questions:

  • What does civil disobedience look like?

  • What kind of civil disobedience is present in today’s 21st century society?

  • Does modern civil disobedience do any good?

  • How does the civil disobedience of today compare to the civil disobedience of Thoreau's time?

  • Is civil disobedience necessary for a healthy democracy?

 

Consider this quote:

"All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable." -- Thoreau, Civil Disobedience

 

Thoreau's words still ring true to this day. Civil disobedience is occurring in this country as you read these words. Can you name any groups which are rebelling against the government?

Have you ever rebelled against injustice? If you could join a cause, what would it be? If you created an activist group, what would you fight for?

In this webquest, you will learn what civil disobedience is, and how it has been used in our modern times. After we have read The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, you will consider questions regarding how Thoreau’s civil disobedience is similar and different from the modern activism we’re exploring today.

Process

Part 1: What is Civil Disobedience?

1. Examine these links. Take notes on anything that strikes you as interesting, shocking, or confusing on your Civil Disobedience WebQuest Google Doc. You will be answering the questions in #2 below after you have completed the videos.

Be prepared to share your thoughts in your small group.

 

2. For each video, answer these questions on the Civil Disobedience WebQuest Google Doc. We will discuss them in class, and they will be turned in for homework points:

  1. What is being protested?
  2. What role does violence play? What role does nonviolence play?
  3. Is it evident if the protest was successful?
  4. Would you participate in a protest like this?
  5. What commonalities do you see between these four examples?
  6. What differences do you see between these four examples?

 

3. Read these lyrics from "Testify"by Rage Against the Machine:

The movie ran through me

The glamour subdued me

The tabloid untied me

I'm empty please fill me

Mister anchor assure me

That Baghdad is burning

Your voice it is so soothing

That cunning mantra of killing

I need you my witness

To dress this up so bloodless

To numb me and purge me now

Of thoughts of blaming you

Yes the car is our wheelchair

My witness your coughing

Oily silence mocks the legless boys

Who travel now in coffins

On the corner

The jury's sleepless

We found your weakness

And it's right outside your door

 

Now testify

Now testify

It's right outside your door

Now testify

Yes testify

Its right outside your door

 

With precision you feed me

My witness I'm hungry

Your temple it calms me

So I can carry on

My slaving sweating the skin right off my bones

On a bed of fire I'm choking on the smoke that fills my home

The wrecking ball is rushing

Witness your blushing

The pipeline is gushing

While here we lie in tombs

While on the corner

The jury's sleepless

We found your weakness

And it's right outside your door

 

Now testify

Yeah testify

It's right outside your door

Now testify

Now testify

It's right outside your door

 

Mass graves for the pump and the price is set

And the price is set

Mass graves for the pump and the price is set

And the price is set

Mass graves for the pump and the price is set

And the price is set

Mass graves for the pump and the price is set

And the price is set

 

Who controls the past now controls the future

Who controls the present now controls the past

Who controls the past now controls the future

Who controls the present now?

 

Now testify

Testify

It's right outside your door

Now testify

Testify

It's right outside your door

 

4. (Optional to watch the music video) Now, watch the music video. While viewing, think about the core message of the song: Click Here!

5. After watching, write down your answers to these questions on the Civil Disobedience WebQuest Google Doc and discuss them in your small groups:

  1. Do you think that Rage Against the Machine is acting on behalf of civil disobedience? Do you consider them an activist group?
  2. Who is their audience?
  3. What message or story are they telling?
  4. Do you think these methods (music and music videos) are effective in promoting a cause? Can you think of any other examples of artists acting as activists?

 

Part 2: Modern civil disobedience

Pick one of these organizations, and look closely at their website. Browse all of the links. Look for any protest work they are planning to do, or have already completed.

 

1. Check out these activist groups, and pick one to focus on in your small groups:

 

2. As a group, answer these questions on your Civil Disobedience WebQuest Google Doc. Each person should respond to the questions and turn in the document individually:

  1. Which activist group did you pick?
  2. What stands out about this group? What makes them unique?
  3. What campaigns have they organized? Are they organizing any protest or campaigns currently?
  4. Are they persuasive? Would you join their cause?
  5. Do you think this group is successful in their endeavors? Why or why not?
  6. What do you think Thoreau would think about this group? Are they acting out of civil disobedience?

Evaluation

Make sure that you have completed each section of the Civil Disobedience WebQuest Google Doc, and hit the turn in button to receive points for today's activity.