In Resistance to Civil Government, Henry David Thoreau argues that individuals should not surrender their moral judgement to the state. He maintains that governments can support injustice and that citizens therefore have a responsibility to consider whether their own actions contribute to wrongdoing. Thoreau develops this argument through his opposition to slavery and the Mexican-American War, both of which shaped his refusal to pay a poll tax.

Thoreau describes his imprisonment for that refusal and uses the episode to examine the relationship between conscience, law and political authority. He distinguishes respect for justice from automatic obedience to government, arguing that a person may be justified in withdrawing support from institutions that sustain injustice. The essay does not present a detailed programme for political reform; instead, it stresses personal responsibility and principled resistance. Later published under the title Civil Disobedience, it became influential in discussions of non-violent protest and political dissent.