An overview of the book democracy in america thoughtco. It remains the most often quoted book about the united states. In the book, the french author analyzes the political and sociological aspects of the american democratic regime and contrasts his findings with the situation of the people living under the aristocratic. Democracy in america summary from litcharts the creators of. In the book, the french author analyzes the political and sociological aspects of the american democratic regime and contrasts his findings with the situation of the people living under the aristocratic regimes of france and england. North america divided into two vast regions, one inclining towards the pole, the other towards the equator. This is an introductory section, summarising the most important points of this work in one 10minute read. Tocquevilles democracy in america flashcards quizlet. Its title translates as on democracy in america, but english translations are. Democracy in america and two essays on america by alexis. Tocqueville is best known for democracy in america, which was published in two volumes in 1835 and 1840.
How equality of condition contributes in america to good morals. Subjecting the provinces to the rule of a capital city would. Henry reeve, the pennsylvania state university, electronic classics series, jim manis, faculty editor, hazleton, pa 182011291 is a portable document file produced as part of an ongoing student publication. Democracy in america chapter summaries course hero.
Democracy in america has had the singular honor of being even to this day the work that political commentators of every stripe refer to when they seek to draw large conclusions about the society of the united states. Best known for democracy in america, as well as his second work, the old. It is necessary, he explains, to examine the stages or layers of government from the bottom up. Furthermore, tocquevilles democracy in america is often cited by presentday critics because so many of the observations in it seem extraordinarily suitable even more than one hundred and fifty years later. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. He argued that the importance of the french revolution. He had originally thought that democracy was just a political system and one he disliked at first bc he was from an aristocratic nation, but it was a culture that encouraged individuals, equality, and active participation in the public. Its title translates as on democracy in america, but english translations are usually simply entitled democracy in america. His ninemonth sojourn led to the writing of democracy in america, universally regarded as one of the most influential books ever written.
While historians have viewed democracy as a rich source about the age of andrew jackson, tocqueville was more of a political thinker than a historian. He wrote democracy in america after visiting the united states during which he observed various elements of the prison system. During his trip to the united states, tocqueville was able to describe the awakening democracy. Having seen the failed attempts at a democratic government in his native france, tocqueville set out to study a stable and prosperous democracy in order to gain insight into how it worked. Although tocqueville has described the institutions that maintain freedom in america, he also suggests that the democracy is successfully maintained by chance features, such as geographical isolation, the lack of financial crises, and the lack of a great capital city that would extend its influence everywhere. His 9month go to and subsequent studying and reflection resulted in democracy in america 1835forty, a landmark masterpiece of political remark and evaluation. Almost two centuries later, his reflections on the countrys political, cultural and physical landscape remain relevant to our current. Welcome to the ways in section of this macat analysis. The henry reeve text, as revised by francis bowen, now further corrected and edited, with introduction and notes by phillips bradley.
How the taste for physical gratifications is united in america to love of freedom and attention to public affairs. The result was democracy in america, a subtle and prescient analysis of the life and institutions of 19thcentury america. Find summaries for every chapter, including a democracy in america chapter summary chart. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. The book he wrote on his return to france, democracy in america, is both the best ever written on democracy and the best ever written on america. Having seen the failed attempts at a democratic government in his native france, tocqueville set out to study a stable and prosperous democracy in order to gain insight into how it work. After barely escaping the guillotine, his parents escaped to england. Although most political scientists agree that this unique. His father gained some political power under the reign of the bourbons, and after the july revolution of 1830, the family was exiled along with the king.
How americans understand the equality of the sexes. Many over the years have commented on the structure and formation of democracy but more importantly the implementation and daily function within the democratic parameters that have been set. Although franceand europe in generalhave long been home to aristocratic monarchies where a king and queen rule but an aristocratic class also retains power and privileges based on birth, equality of condition a leveling out of social class hierarchies is. He was fascinated by the way people lived in democratic countries. Democracy in america has been a guiding principle since the foundation of the country.
What struck him most was the countrys equality of conditions, its democracy. Influence of democracy on manners properly so called. May 25, 2011 from the first collection in english tr. Macats analyses are definitive studies of the most important books and. The surprisingly large number of readers who chuckled over toby youngs how to lose friends. About democracy in america and two essays on america. Although franceand europe in generalhave long been home to aristocratic monarchies where a king and queen rule but an aristocratic class also retains power and privileges based on birth, equality of condition a leveling out.
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