As “Democracy in America” revealed, Tocqueville believed that equality was the great political and social idea of his era , and he thought that the United States offered the most advanced example of equality in action.
What does De Tocqueville see as the danger of a democratic society?
De Tocqueville, however, saw another even more disturbing threat to American democracy. He feared that American citizens would become so satisfied with being equal to one another that they would abandon their deep interest and involvement in self-government . ... Americans would end up having equality through slavery.
How did Tocqueville define democracy?
Tocqueville identifies democracy (which he also calls equality) as the central feature of modern society . The concept has the same central role in his thought as “capitalism” does in Marx’s.
What did Tocqueville say was the key to democracy?
He thought that a vibrant religious life was essential to the preservation and prosperity of a free democratic society. Tocqueville thought that religion (and he was favorable to almost any kind of religion) was essential to democracy for many reasons.
What did Tocqueville say was the greatest danger to American democracy?
Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville is universally regarded as one of the most influential books ever written about America. ... The greatest danger Tocqueville saw was that public opinion would become an all-powerful force , and that the majority could tyrannize unpopular minorities and marginal individuals.
Who is the father of democracy?
Although this Athenian democracy would survive for only two centuries, its invention by Cleisthenes , “The Father of Democracy,” was one of ancient Greece’s most enduring contributions to the modern world. The Greek system of direct democracy would pave the way for representative democracies across the globe.
Why did Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America?
Tocqueville’s main purpose in writing Democracy in America was to analyze the functioning of political society and the various forms of political associations , although he also had some reflections on civil society as well as the relations between political and civil society.
What did Tocqueville say about religion in America?
“In the United States,” Tocqueville observes, “religion” exercises a beneficial “empire over intelligence.” Almost all Americans believe in or at least respect Christianity, with the result that “everything is certain and fixed in the moral world.” Therefore, in America, “ the human spirit never perceives an unlimited ...
Where does Tocqueville talk about tyranny of the majority?
Tocqueville, in the light of his “new political science,” calls this an “impious and detestable maxim.” In Volume 2, Part 2, Chapter 7 , “Of the Omnipotence of the Majority in the United States and Its Effects,” he lays out his argument against this view.
What was a warning made by Alexis de Tocqueville quizlet?
“Tyranny of the majority” is a warning that “direct democracy” can destroy a government by giving those who are a majority in population the majority of power in government.
What limitations did Tocqueville recognize in American democracy?
What limitations did Tocqueville recognize in American democracy? It was only truly available to white men.
What aspect of American society is most striking to Tocqueville?
But for Tocqueville the most striking condition of American society was equality .
How have Tocqueville’s 5 values contributed to the success of our country?
Women and children were more independent, and the freedom of religion allowed for more religious denominations. As a result of his observations, Tocqueville determined five values crucial to America’s success as a constitutional republic: liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and laissez-faire .
What did Tocqueville mean by in America I saw more than America?
“I confess,” he wrote, “that in America I saw more than America; I sought the image of democracy itself, with its inclinations, its character, its prejudices, and its passions, in order to learn what we have to fear or hope from its progress.” This feature examines Tocqueville’s argument that the “great democratic ...
Who first said tyranny of the majority?
While the specific phrase “tyranny of the majority” is frequently attributed to various Founding Fathers, only John Adams is known to have used it, arguing against government by a single unicameral elected body.
How did Alexis de Tocqueville react to his visit to the United States?
How did Alexis de Tocqueville react to his visit to the United States? ... Tocqueville came to believe that democracy was an unstoppable force whose major benefit was equality before the law . However, he also described the tyranny of the majority, which overpowers the will of minorities and individuals.
