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Tocqueville democracy in america criticalanalysis
Tocqueville democracy in america criticalanalysis
Tocqueville's percieved strengths and weaknesses of democracy
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The creation of the United States is considered by many to be a great experiment in democracy. After the War of 1812, America was filled with tremendous nationalism and as the young country grew, many nations look to it as both an inspiration and a warning. Americans seemed united behind their president James Monroe, who was elected in 1816 and then ran uncontested for his second term in 1820. However, even during this time there were many discussions and arguments within the nation’s own government regarding the benefits of democracy.
They traveled over to America and stayed for nine months to “study” the prisons. However, he accomplished a lot more than what he came here to do. Alexis made quite a few observations about America, these observations will be discussed throughout the paper. One of the many observations Alexis de Tocqueville made during his stay in america is the principle sovereignty of the the people.
Freedom of association is a right, and the Constitution makes it clear that the government cannot impede a person’s ability to associate however they wish, politically and otherwise. Freedom of political association is rare, Tocqueville says, but surprisingly, freedom works for American democracy: “the political freedom to associate is not as dangerous to the public space as is supposed and that it could strengthen a state which for some time it had shaken” (Tocqueville, 607); and: “Thus it is by enjoying a dangerous freedom that Americans learn the skill of reducing the risks of freedom” (608). Tocqueville normally has feared freedom, especially freedom of political association, because he has previously seen it as a gateway for tyranny of the majority; however, in America, Tocqueville appreciates this strange phenomenon as being constructive rather than detrimental. In fact, its goodness, Tocqueville describes, can be explained upon checking the vitality of the nation: in America, one would
American Exceptionalism was coined by Alexis de Tocqueville in his book Democracy in America. To illustrate how the American way of thought is superior to the other ways of the world, Tocqueville expresses that the American way of thought is distinctively unique and special. This distinction is exemplified through liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and Laissez-Faire Economics. These qualities prove America’s exceptionality and difference from other countries. Although American Exceptionalism originated in the early 1800s, the idyllic values Tocqueville paints in his book can be seen throughout American history.
Democracy is the foundation of the American government, and its application creates the opportunity of social class intermingling. Albeit in the form of social interaction or working one’s way up the chain of command. The labor standoff between the Homestead workers and management became the tipping point for manners in American democracy. This tipping point resulted in violent altercations, assassination attempts, and ultimately broken spirits. The Homestead strike in the 19th century not only exemplifies how democracy instigated class blending, but also diminished morality.
Xenophobia, the fear of socialism and American exceptionalism are what provide the scaffolding for this economic divide and the government's role in it. In 1835 Alexis De Tocqueville wrote the book Democracy in America, De Tocqueville’s book brought to light the concept of American Exceptionalism. While Alexis De Tocqueville
Alexis De Tocqueville was a French aristocrat was a well-educated, political thinker, and historian, who came to America to study the prisons and jails. He arrived in America with longtime friend Gustave de Beaumont, in May of 1831 and stayed about 9 months. Upon his return home he published his travels and experiences in America, in his book Democracy in America. He believed in Democracy and he envisioned France as a Democracy.
“I have tried to see not differently but further…”(Tocqueville, 1835) was Alexis de Tocqueville’s conclusion to the introduction of his perennial classic text Democracy in America, and adumbrates to the reader of his modern ideas and observations that were to follow. At the same time, he measures the progress of society through its relationship with equality and liberty. In this paper, I will highlight Tocqueville’s use of equality and liberty to compare the past and the modern, and establish his views on the effects of these concepts with society and each other. Finally, I will put forth that Tocqueville does not favour one concept over the other, but notes the complex relationship between the two and the importance of the co-existence of liberty and equality for a society of people. To begin, let us build the base case to compare with and look the past as defined by Tocqueville, with emphasis on equality and liberty.
Alexis de Tocqueville penned Democracy in America after he spent month America in the 1831, where he witnessed a new democratic system. He found it’s concepts to have unique strengths and weaknesses that he believed could be the inspiration for the new government of post-revolution France. The concepts of limiting individualism, encouraging positive associations, and moderating the tyranny of the majority that Tocqueville observed during his trip in America helped maintain the new democratic republic built after the revolution. As soon as America became free from British rule, their groundwork for their new government helped cement them as a true democracy since it contended with individualism. Tocqueville noticed that after a successful
These are articles and books written by visitors, largely European, that deal with the way in which America works when compared to other countries. Writers like Alex de Tocqueville traveled to America to find out why establishing a democratic government in his native country, France, during the French Revolution, had a bad outcome. But the same political system that was established in America, led to stability in the republic. Alex de Tocqueville emphasized that the meaning of the five terms of the
Alexis de Tocqueville’s evaluation of America and its political structure, system, and institution in Democracy in America is a classical liberal philosopher’s take on a new democratic structure unrivaled by any other government. The uniqueness of America stems from its foundation, and is driven by the mores of the American people. That being said, there are some flaws looming so large and dangerous to American democracy that Tocqueville takes great care to ensure his readers are aware. One great concern he has for the sanctity of democracy is the concept of “place hunting.” The mindset behind place-hunting, to Tocqueville, needs to be avoided at all costs; however, the act of place-hunting itself is not inherently evil and is one of the
Scholars from all over the Western world have analyzed and discussed the impact of democracy has had for the citizens of the United States, for over 200 years. Each new period throughout American history, has brought a new concept of being an individual in a democratic society. One flaw scholars from the late nineteenth century saw with democracy was that the majority ruled and if an individual part of the minority their voices were not heard, even if the minority was just and the majority unjust. Thus the democracy most Americans are proud to have is primarily individualistic and can be deemed corrupt because of the focus of majority rule, which might not be the wisest decision. Alexis de Tocqueville was a French writer who wrote several essays on his visit to the United States.
Individualism has become more prominent in the atmosphere of American politics. In today’s age the question has come up in many conversations throughout the United States; can individualism be a danger to democracy? Alexis de Tocqueville who is famous French historian and political scientist who is known for his study of the American political system of Democracy in modern America. Tocqueville breaks down the origin of individualism and the consequences and dangers that individualism can have when effecting democracy.
In 1831 French sociologist and political theorist Alexis De Tocqueville and a lawyer he befriended named Gustave de Beaumont, spent nine months traveling around America studying its prisons and came back with a full report on the cultural, political and psychological life in America. While Beaumont wrote about the penitentiary system, Tocqueville focused more in the cultural and political life in America. He wrote two essays and published them in a book called Democracy in America. He discussed the possible threats to democracy and the possible dangers of democracy. He believed that religion and equality were the greatest ideas and they were the most advanced in the United States and that's why democracy worked so well in America.
After observing the American democracy, Tocqueville is able to create ways to combat the issues he witnessed and design a stronger democracy. Associations reduce the effects of individualism. By forming associations with others, citizens are able to gain power to combat big government. They also stimulate new thoughts, new ideas, and political involvement. Other options that he believes would create a better functioning democracy are strong local governments, freedom of association, and an independent judiciary system.
