Amongst the novel objects that attracted my attention during my stay in theunited states, nothing struck me more forcibly than. The primary focus of democracy in america is an analysis of why republican representative democracy has succeeded in the united states when it failed in so many other places. This includes the democratization of the clergy, the growth. Democracy in america has been a guiding principle since the foundation of the country. It remains the most often quoted book about the united states.
Jan 21, 2006 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Table of contents volume i authors introduction chapter 1. Although, the orders were to investigate the american prison system, alexis used the time to research his book, democracy in america. What is the thesis or main idea of democracy in america. When tocqueville visited america in the 1830s he found a thriving democracy of a kind he had not seen anywhere else. Published in 2 volumes, in 1835 and 1840, tocqueville records his findings after studying the. In the eleven years that separated the declaration of the independence of the united states from the completion of that act in the ordination of our written constitution, the great minds of america were bent upon the study of the principles of government that were. What struck him most was the countrys equality of conditions, its democracy. The reeve translation of part i was first published in london in 1835. About democracy in america and two essays on america. Democracy in america, volume i and ii optimized for.
The greatness of america lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her. They have not only commercial and manufacturing companies, in which all take part, but associations of a thousand other kinds religious, moral, serious, futile, extensive or restricted, enormous or diminutive. The surprisingly large number of readers who chuckled over toby youngs how to lose friends. Looking to americas unique democratic system as a possible model f. His 9month go to and subsequent studying and reflection resulted in democracy in america 1835forty, a landmark masterpiece of political remark and evaluation. Democracy in america by tocqueville, first edition abebooks passion for books. Commissioned by the french government to study the american penal system in 18311832, tocqueville ultimately produced, in democracy in america, the first systematic and empirical study of the effects of political power on modern society nisbet. 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. He argued that the importance of the french revolution. Its title translates as on democracy in america, but english translations are usually simply entitled democracy in america. Tocqueville also speculates on the future of democracy in the united states, discussing both possible threats to democracy and possible dangers of democracy, including his. Tocqueville looked to the flourishing democratic system in america as a possible model for postrevolutionary france, believing its egalitarian.
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. The author documents his travels through america and contrasts his experiences with established aristocratic systems in western europe. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. During his lifetime he was responsible for the authorship of democracy in america and the old regime and the french revolution we focused on the latter in class. The result was democracy in america, a monumental study of the strengths and weaknesses of the nations evolvi. Origin and importance of the angloamericans chapter 4.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading democracy in america, volume i and ii optimized for kindle. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read democracy in america. Page 145 there they meet together in large numbers, they converse, they listen to each other. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Democracy in america is a classic of political philosophy. Examining the condition of the states before that of the union chapter 6. Democracy in america conclusion american literature. In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution that he believed had been occurring. One way in which he stood out in nineteenthcentury france was his attitude towards religion. After extensive travels across the young nation, tocqueville wrote democracy in america published in two volumes in 1835 and 1840. Democracy in america and two essays on america by alexis. America was then a nation of million people populating 24 states, with a largely unsettled territorial claim stretching westward to the pacific.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading democracy in america. Heffner and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Origin of the angloamericans and its future importance chapter 3. Page 129 americans of all ages, all conditions, and all dispositions, constantly form associations. The result was democracy in america, a monumental study of the strengths and weaknesses of the nations evolving politics. The primary focus of democracy in america is an analysis of why republican representative democracy has succeeded in the united states when it fail. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. 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. First american edition of tocquevilles magnum opus.
In 1835, the first volume appeared in french, and throughout the intellectual circles. The reader has a thick british accent, where each sentence ranges from a loud overstressed syllable to a soft mumble where i cant even hear the last word or two, as if davidson is talking in his sleep. Many of his insightful observations american society and political system, found in the two volume book he published after his visit, still remain surprisingly relevant today. High school students often study this book alongside the u. 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. Tocqueville looked to the flourishing democratic system in america as a possible model for post. But what happens when religion also becomes preoccupied with equality. From americas call for a free press to its embrace of the capitalist system, democracy in america first published in 1835enlightens, entertains, and endures as a brilliant study of our national government and character. It was a bold effort for one who had no special training in government, or in the study of political economy, but he had the example of lafayette in establishing the military foundation of these lib. In the eleven years that separated the declaration of the independence of the united states from the completion of that act in the ordination of our written constitution, the great minds of america were bent upon the study of the principles of government that were essential to the. How equality of condition contributes in america to good morals.
Democracy in america, volume i and ii optimized for kindle. The audio cd version of democracy in america as read by frederick davidson is horrible. How is it that in the united states, whose residents, leaving customs and memories behind, came only recently to the land. America is therefore one of the countries in the world where philosophy is least studied, and where the precepts of. Part i of democracy in america focuses on the political institutions of the u. The greatness of america lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults. Page 123 the great advantage of the americans is, that they have arrived at a state of democracy without having to endure a democratic revolution. Hailed by john stuart mill and horace greely as the finest book ever written on the nature of democracy, it continues to be an influential text on both sides of the atlantic, above all in the emerging democracies of eastern europe. Democracy in america by tocqueville, first edition abebooks. Bred to the law, he exhibited an early predilection for philosophy and political economy, and at twentytwo was appointed judgeauditor at the tribunal of. He was fascinated by the way people lived in democratic countries. Publication date 1841 topics democracy, united states politics and government, united states social conditions publisher new york.
779 956 1520 398 346 148 1163 63 1025 1506 566 133 189 1112 225 429 449 1530 1134 73 1254 962 869 329 613 265 16 699 647 853 182 623 1251 863 709 1481 661 822 1016 683 400 66 1240 488 943 923 232 451 361 755