Question

select the correct answer.
why was henry david thoreau put in jail, prompting him to write the essay \civil disobedience\?
a. he became a union traitor and swore allegiance to the south during the civil war.
b. he helped slaves escape from southern plantations and find freedom in the north.
c. he built a cottage on ralph waldo emerson’s property to study self - discipline.
d. he refused to pay a poll tax as a protest against the mexican - american war.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Thoreau was not a Union traitor; this is incorrect.
• Option B: While Thoreau supported abolition, his jailing was not for helping slaves escape.
• Option C: Building a cottage on Emerson’s property was for living simply, not related to jailing.
• Option D: Thoreau refused to pay a poll tax to protest the Mexican - American War, which led to his jailing and inspired "Civil Disobedience".

Answer:

D. He refused to pay a poll tax as a protest against the Mexican - American War.