Martin Luther King Jr. once said: “Everyone has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. » In this quote, he invoked the principle of civil disobedience. He did not justify breaking laws just because, but rather he meant breaking the law in the hopes that people would understand that the law is unethical. Civil disobedience plays a significant role in how our society has been shaped thus far. This speech will define civil disobedience, describe civil disobedience in the United States and other countries. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay To begin with, civil disobedience is the act of ethically defying a law. This is an attempt to influence people to accept a rebellious point of view. Even though civil disobedience uses nonviolent tactics, it is greater than ordinary passive confrontation because it often takes active forms such as illegal street protests or harmonious occupations of property. This aspect causes endless protests, numerous rebellions, uprisings and revolutions. These challenges are a result of the unjust regime in power. Now that you know what civil disobedience is, I am going to educate you about civil disobedience in America. Throughout history, civil disobedience has played a crucial role in most recent social reforms in the United States. Most notable is the Boston Tea Party, a nonviolent protest against British tax rule in 1773, attended by residents of the Massachusetts colony and British freighters. The cargo contained tea from England in which the colonists decided they weren't going to pay the crazy taxes on tea, so they threw it overboard and into Boston Harbor. As a result, the British government imposed onerous measures on American citizens. They protested against this act leading to the war of independence. Subsequently, the United States of America became an independent state. Furthermore, in London, riots against the payment of taxes to all citizens, regardless of their means of income, led to civil disobedience in 1990. The presence of this act allowed the demonstrations to express their ideas against injustices. laws and taxes. As a result, the government replaced this rule with Congress' tax imposing a tax on the value of a home. Furthermore, in countries like India, citizens have protested against the oppression of the ruling regime. Some people, like Mahatma Gandhi in India, embraced civil disobedience and applied it to their principles and lives. He was often taken to prison, but he retained the same fighting spirit. Gandhi's civil disobedience helped India gain its freedom, which allowed India to become a democratic country. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, civil disobedience is not a means of committing unlawful acts. challenge the law, but challenge the status quo in order to stimulate social change. Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr are two individuals who fought for social change in their communities. These individuals enabled other citizens to have better lives because they fought against oppression and recognized the essence of civil disobedience in a country. In short, civil disobedience is a driving force that pushes our government to reevaluate itself for the common good..