A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight. If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose. If a thousand men were not to pay their tax bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood. — "Civil Disobedience," Henry David Thoreau According to Thoreau, why would people be justified in not paying their taxes? Check all that apply. These particular taxes are illegal. Tax money is funding a violent, unjust war. The crime that the state is committing is worse than the crime of withholding taxes. The state refuses to negotiate with war protestors. Acts of civil disobedience such as withholding taxes are preferable to violent protest.
