At a time when slavery was still commonplace and new technologies, like the telegraph and the railroad, promised a radical change in the ways people worked and traveled, one man demanded freedom for all and cautioned against reliance on material possessions for fulfillment. No one could have predicted the modern relevance of the teachings of transcendentalist author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau. By watching a short video and engaging in two primary source activities, students will explore the philosophy, writings, and impact of Henry David Thoreau.