Civil Disobedience Quizzes

Civil Disobedience Quiz 1

By Adam Christian · Last reviewed June 02, 2003

1 The inspiration for American Transcendentalism derives from Thoreau's understanding and study of:

Unitarian-Universalism

German Idealism

British Romanticism

all of the above
2 Thoreau was thrown in prison for one night in 1847 because he

protested at a Concord town meeting

encouraged violent overthrow of the federal government

refused to pay the poll tax

failed to repay debt to the local bank
3 According to Thoreau, American government is generally

a meddlesome and intrusive presence

good at solving social problems, but could be more effective

too weak to have any real impact on the overall direction of society

a progressive, enlightening force in the lives of ordinary citizens
4 William Paley argues with regard to acts of civil disobedience that:

only considerations of individual conscience should be taken into account

men should instead petition their elected representatives

men have an unfettered right to revolution

the enormity of the grievance must be weighed against the cost of redressing it
5 How many times does Thoreau use the term "civil disobedience" in his essay?

none

3

7

2
6 In his prison account, Thoreau compares the State to

a machine

an overbearing mother

a pathetic, lonely woman

an armored knight
7 The purest sources of Truth, Thoreau claims at the end of his essay, are to be found in:

the wisdom of great leaders

18th century Enlightenment thought

ancient Greek philosophy

the Constitution and the Bible
8 For Thoreau, majority opinion in a democracy

is highly manipulable and hence not to be trusted

must always be respected, regardless of its moral consequences

should generally be used to guide the decision of legislators, except in times of war or civil unrest

should be disregarded if it supports unjust or immoral policies
9 Thoreau opposes the Mexican war primarily because he

wants to preserve the political power of New England

thinks that war is morally wrong in all cases

fears the extension of slavery into new US territories

thinks that a diplomatic solution should be sought in this case
10 Thoreau claims that money is generally a corrupting force because it

puts men out of touch with the plight of the common man

gives men too much influence over the political process

binds men to corrupt governments and social institutions

makes men think that they are above the law
11 Thoreau's pessimistic view of the voting process stems from

the manner in which it limits voter choices

the undue influence of campaign contributions

declining voter turnout

the tendency of politicians to break campaign promises
12 Thoreau calls on his fellow citizens to help abolish slavery by

writing to their elected representatives

appealing to the moral conscience of slaveowners

boycotting southern states where it is practiced

withholding taxes from the government
13 Fill in the blank: "The progress from an absolute to a limited monarchy, from a limited monarchy to a democracy, is a progress toward ___________."

a more enlightened State

true respect for the individual

the ideal of true freedom

greater power for the people
14 Thoreau uses which figure to describe men who do not follow their conscience?

blindfolded prisoners lined up for execution

children dutifully completing their chores

slaves tied up in chains awaiting auction

soldiers marching toward their death
15 According to Thoreau, the authority of government derives from:

divine right

the consent of the governed

the Constitution

Biblical teachings
16 Thoreau feels that the problem with politicians is their inability to:

pass intelligent legislation

stand up for what they believe in

scrutinize the government that gives them authority

(b) and (c)
17 A man has an obligation to act according to his conscience even if the latter goes against:

the presiding leadership

majority opinion

the laws of society

all of the above
18 Thoreau thinks that American democracy is:

ill-conceived and should be overthrown

a model for the rest of the world

a tradition that has strayed from its original ideals

too liberal in granting rights and freedoms
19 Civil Disobedience influenced which of the following people?

Leo Tolstoy

Martin Luther King Jr.

Mohandas Gandhi

all of the above
20 Government lends itself to oppressive and corrupt uses because it allows men to

profit economically from their position of authority

achieve legal immunity for their crimes and misdemeanors

impose their will on the majority

(a) and (b)
21 Civil Disobedience was published in 1849 under the title:

On the Duty of Resistance

An Appeal to the Consciences of Men

Resistance to Civil Government

The Individual and the State
22 Thoreau cites a speech by Senator Daniel Webster, who believes that

tax resisters should be punished to the fullest extent of the law

feelings of humanity toward slaves have no place in political debate

men should pledge their allegiance to the State under all circumstances

slavery must be brought to an immediate end
23 Upon his immediate release from prison, Thoreau describes feeling

humbled into conformity

regret at the damage to his public reputation

morally ashamed of his actions

alienated from his neighbors
24 The use of civil disobedience is legitimate when citizens abide by which of the following condition?

reasonable proportionality of the remedy to the injustice

resignation from government employment, if necessary

nonviolent means of protest

prior petitioning of elected officials
25 Slaves constituted what part of the total US population at the time Thoreau wrote his essay?

one-tenth

one-twentieth

one-quarter

one-sixth

Essays for Civil Disobedience

Civil Disobedience literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Civil Disobedience.

Lesson Plan for Civil Disobedience

View the lesson plan for Civil Disobedience…

E-Text of Civil Disobedience

Civil Disobedience E-Text contains the full text of Civil Disobedience

Read the E-Text for Civil Disobedience…

Wikipedia Entries for Civil Disobedience

Introduction

View Wikipedia Entries for Civil Disobedience…