How does Thoreau justify the moral need for civil disobedience? What principle does he rely on this justification? 

        According to Henry David Thoreau, civil disobedience is justified when the government is unjust. That is, when it physically controls civilians without allowing them to follow their conscience. Thoreau bases his essay on what he experienced in his country. He was supposed to pay his annual poll tax, but he refused to pay because he did not want to take part in The Mexican War and in enslaving.