The title is an important aspect that should be considered and not misunderstood. When this essay was first published it was titled “Resistance to Civil Government.” The resistance contained in the title is later used as a metaphor to compare government to that of a machine. The machine is producing injustice so he says “If injustice is part of the necessary friction of the government machine, let it go, let it go; perhaps it will wear well, certainly the machine will wear out. He furthers this metaphor by saying, “Let your life be a contrast to stop the machine.” After Thoreau's death his essay was renamed "Civil Disobedience". For the purposes of this essay, civil is defined as “relating to citizens and their interrelationships with each other or with the state,” and therefore civil disobedience means “disobedience to the state.” Thoreau addresses all American citizens with this essay. . He makes a statement to them and tries to convince them that, overall, we need to take a stand against the American government. Thoreau is attempting to demonstrate his self-confidence against the government. It upholds its specific principles and encourages non-aggressive acts of political resistance to protest government policy. An example of his resistance is when he states “that he cannot be associated with it without shame. I cannot even for an instant recognize as my government that political organization which is also the government of slaves." The two main issues that arose while writing this essay were the Mexican-American War and slavery. During this time many Northerners began to oppose slavery causing a division in American society. The Mexican-American War... at the center of the paper... creates at least a State that can afford to be just to all men and to treat the individual with respect as a neighbor; which he would not even consider incompatible with his own rest if some lived far from it, without meddling in it, nor embraced by it, who fulfilled all the duties of their neighbor and neighbors.” This shows that he has hope for what might happen in the future. It may not happen soon, but it is possible. Another statement from the text; “A State that bore this kind of fruit and allowed it to fall as quickly as it ripened, would prepare the way for an even more perfect and glorious State, which I have also imagined, but have not yet seen anywhere.” This means that to have a better state and government there must be a failed and imperfect one so that a better one can be born. Our civil disobedience is not just a right, but a duty, in opposing injustice.