Massachusetts

The state where Thoreau is a resident. He is very critical of the state government and the governor in particular for its tacit support of slavery even though slavery is outlawed within the state. Thoreau also refers to Massachusetts by its formal name, the Commonwealth.

Framingham

The Massachusetts town which is the location of Thoreau's fiery anti-slavery address "Slavery in Massachusetts" that he delivers at an Independence Day meeting.

Concord

The Massachusetts town where Thoreau lives and works as a surveyor and schoolmaster.

Old Marlborough Road

An abandoned road near Thoreau's home town on which he enjoys walking. He includes a poetic ode to the road in the essay "Walking."

Kansas and Nebraska

Two new territories created by the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. Under the act, the settlers of these territories were allowed to determine for themselves if slavery would be allowed within the territories or not. This...