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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of meeting was Thoreau asked to speak at before giving his speech, 'Slavery in Massachusetts'?

2. What kind of issue did Thoreau say slavery was NOT?

3. Who does Thoreau say should provide what government needs for them to have authority?

4. What role does Thoreau challenge in 'Civil Disobedience'?

5. How does Thoreau describe the attack made to free Burns?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Thoreau describe his punishment for his own act of 'Civil Disobedience'?

2. How did Thoreau define innocence in 'Slavery in Massachusetts'?

3. What did Thoreau say gave the government their power, and what did Thoreau suggest men should do in response to this?

4. How did Thoreau feel about the attack that took place on the Boston Courthouse?

5. Who did Thoreau say the government saw as their authority, and how did he feel about this?

6. Who did Thoreau blame for the slavery in America and why?

7. What was the main difference Thoreau pointed out between the cities and the country areas in 'Slavery in Massachusetts'?

8. What did Thoreau credit for the difference he saw between the cities and the country areas in 'Slavery in Massachusetts'?

9. What did Thoreau say was ironic about the day he presented his speech, 'Slavery in Massachusetts'?

10. What did Thoreau claim not to be in 'Civil Disobedience' and what was his support for this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why was walking such an important part of Thoreau's daily schedule, and how did his description of his walking change the tone of his essays?

Essay Topic 2

How did Thoreau suggest people display their disdain for bad government policies, and what happened when he followed his own advice in these situations?

Essay Topic 3

What historical events prompted some of the essays from this book, and what were Thoreau's opinions about them?

(see the answer keys)

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