In this essay Thoreau openly condemns the choices of the US government, in particular the slavery and the expansionist war against Mexico; For these reasons, he refused to pay taxes, trying to boycott government policy and not to contribute to the strengthening of slavery in the South, but was soon incarcerated (probably only for one night, because his aunt paid for him the tax in question). It is from this experience that Civil Disobedience is born, in which he explains the reasons for his unfair arrest, arguing that it is permissible to disobey laws when they go against the conscience and the human rights; Thoreau thus founded the first movements of protest and nonviolent resistance.