Throughout the history of the United States, there have been many times when citizens have felt the need to revolt against their government. "...A little rebellion now and then is a good thing...It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government". Henry David Thoreau, a Transcendentalist from the mid-19th century and Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights movement leader of a century later both believed in the necessity of “medicine” …showed first 75 words of 1671 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1671 total…of direct action and used them in leading the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. Both men inspired reforms and also much overturning of unjust laws and customs in our country. We, as a society, should look at these two people as heroic figures and learn from their teachings. This will help us better our knowledge of how to use non-violent direct action for future national and international problems we may encounter.