Civil disobedience challenges government authority by promoting nonviolent resistance and defiance against unjust laws or policies. Rooted in the belief that individuals have a moral duty to resist oppressive systems, civil disobedience aims to provoke public awareness and spur legal or political change. Historical examples include movements like Martin Luther King Jr.'s protests during the civil rights era. This form of activism emphasizes the power of collective action and civil rights, illustrating the tension between government directives and individual conscience in the pursuit of justice.