Alexis de Tocqueville, (born July 29, 1805, Paris, France—died April 16, 1859, Cannes), political scientist, historian, and politician, best known for Democracy in America, 4 vol. (1835–40) , a perceptive analysis of the political and social system of the United States in the early 19th century.
Who was Alexis de Tocqueville and what did he do?
Alexis de Tocqueville (1805 – 1859) was a Frenchman who came to America in 1831 to study prison reform . In the two years of his journey through America, Tocqueville became fascinated by the lifestyle of Americans, and later wrote a book, Democracy in America.
Why is Alexis de Tocqueville important?
Alexis de Tocqueville was the French author of Democracy in America (1835), perhaps the best, and certainly the most widely-quoted book ever written about the United States. He was unusual for his time in many ways. One way in which he stood out in nineteenth-century France was his attitude towards religion.
What did Tocqueville say was the key to democracy?
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 values did Alexis de Tocqueville?
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 aspect of American society is most striking to Tocqueville?
But for Tocqueville the most striking condition of American society was equality .
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.
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.
What did Alexis de Tocqueville observe on his visit to the United States?
answer, what did Alexis de Tocqueville observe on his visit to the United States that reflected changes that were happening in the country during Jackson’s administration, The correct answer is b) a growing spirit of democracy and equality between classes” In “Democracy in America” by Alexis de Tocqueville in 1831, he ...
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 does Tocqueville mean by tyranny of the majority?
According to Tocqueville, the power of the majority arises from the fact that in a democracy every individual is, politically, the equal of every other individual. In this situation, the greatest power will always be the largest number of individuals who combine their strength to act together : normally, a majority.
How does 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.
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 de Tocqueville say about American society?
De Tocqueville found a deep respect for the law in America . The reason, he felt, was that the American citizens themselves held the ultimate power to change any laws they disliked.
How does Tocqueville define liberty?
Mutual liberty is an idea first developed by Alexis de Tocqueville in his 1835 work Democracy in America. ... Unlike positive and negative liberty, mutual liberty encompasses all citizens. It makes no distinction between political preference and social status.
Who is laissez-faire?
Learn about free-market economics, as advocated in the 18th century by Adam Smith (with his “invisible hand” metaphor) and in the 20th century by F.A. Hayek. Laissez-faire, (French: “allow to do”) policy of minimum governmental interference in the economic affairs of individuals and society .
