Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau By Alex Young and Aubree Udell

Brief BiographyBorn on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts.He was a skilled writer.Studied at Harvard University from 1833 to 1837.Courses: rhetoric, classics, philosophy, mathematics, and scienceTaught at a school in Canton, Massachusetts.Him and his brother John opened a grammar school in Concord named Concord Academy.

2Biography (continued)Was a philosopher of nature along with studying its relation to the human condition. Jobs:Editorial assistantrepair man/gardener childrens tutor,Worked at a pencil factoryLand SurveyorLived in Emersons cabin on Walden Pond for two years.Died on May 6, 1862 in Concord Massachusetts.

Thoreaus MovementBelieved in transcendentalism

Believed in Naturalism

Believed in Individualism

Believed in Abolitionism

Contributions Made in Thoreaus MovementsObjective was to make his life simpler, get back in tune with the natural world while being alone enabling him to write.The experiment was to prove that a person can be in the world, but not of the world while just living plain without luxury of material goods.Wrote Walden.Shared the basis to his ideas of social activism against the government and naturalistic living.

Contributions Made in Thoreaus Movements (continued)In his writing, The Civil Disobedience he stressed individualism and the belief that should follow their conscious to know right from wrong.Felt government was more harmful than helpful.The government did not do what was in the peoples best interest.Was determined to act against the injustice government.

Contributions Made in Thoreaus Movements (continued)Transcendentalism was not a religious experience, but a reformation of individuals.Thoreau decided to carry out the movement of individualism and transcendentalism. Felt the abolition of slavery needed to occur; therefore, he did could not resist himself from joining a group (the abolitionists).By refusing to pay the government, Thoreau believed they would have to get rid of the slavery in Massachusetts.Protested for many years by not paying his poll tax.

EffectsMany Political leaders and reformers were influenced by his writings, especially, Civil Disobedience.Inner voices.Influenced many naturalists.Expressed the idea to many people that human that nature could be remade.Many of his readers followed his belief that one should peacefully protest against what seems wrong within the government.Put the idea of self-reliance into practice.

BibliographyThoreau, Henry David. Civil Disobedience. N.p.: Dover Publications, 1993. Print.Thoreau, Henry David. Walden. N.p.: Dover Publications, 1995. Print.Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. N.p., 30 June 2005. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. . American Transcendentalism Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. . The Thoreau Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. . The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. .