Abstract
This paper explores the reasons "Democracy in America" is repeatedly quoted as a commentator on life in America and why numerous politicians reference the book in speeches as well as political and presidential campaigns. The author goes on to explain why candidates and incumbents consequently turn to one of its most perceptive analysts, Tocqueville, as he mixes a gratitude towards democracy with an acknowledgement of its flaws. The book is often considered a major source for anyone who wants to better understand America. The paper also addresses the author's views on democracy, freedom and the role of the government.

From the Paper
"The other danger Tocqueville acknowledged occurred when the people became so fixed in pursuit of material pleasures that they neglected their duties as citizens. "Under this system the citizens quit their state of dependence just long enough to choose their masters and then fall back into it."8 Democracy, then, could lead gently into a benign despotism, although there was no assurance that such a government would remain benign and much evidence to the contrary. In these elections, candidates typically remind the populace that voting is a key obligation as a way to preserve the essence of the democratic process. Candidates gradually begin to realize that the 21st century Tocquevillian America is not necessarily Republican, any more than Tocqueville's 1830s America inevitably voted for the Jacksonian Democrats. (The Whigs, when they escaped the thrall of their New England elites, won elections too, and in the 1990s Bill Clinton has shown that Democrats can win by convincing margins."

Tags:literature, democracy, united, states, government

Abstract
In this paper, a review of Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" is presented in which the stated goal is to explore the way in which de Tocqueville sees women influencing democracy. The starting point of this inquiry is a quote that de Tocqueville made about the importance of women in American society. The paper then goes on to discuss many aspects of inequality and prejudice in America, including racism and sexism. Throughout these discussions, the reviewer returns to citing de Tocqueville's view of the superior nature of women and their ability to shape society.

From the Paper
"Furthermore, democratic society is plagued by an excess of materialism and love of well-being. Equality itself causes materialism, in conjunction with the commercial spirit which is characteristic of American democracy. Without the security of a caste system, the rich fear losing their wealth and the poor are constantly agitated by the desire to gain riches (pg. 507). This focus on material goods causes Americans to "[lose] sight of the more precious goods that make the glory and greatness of the human species" (pg. 509). In other words, materialists look only to the immediate gratification of earthly comforts, reinforcing an individualist outlook. Tocqueville fears that the pursuit of well-being will degrade democratic men and leave them atomized and narrow minded."

Tags:America, women, mores, society

Abstract
The paper examines and compares the books "Democracy in America" by Alexis DeTocqueville and "Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes and their opinions on the influence religious beliefs have in the context of America and in political regimes in general. The paper further analyzes the validity of DeTocqueville's claims as applied to contemporary America.

From the Paper
"The latest presidential elections have just finished and it has become clear that a great many, a deciding amount, of voters have voted with morals in the forefront of their minds. The latest elections have brought to light the sway that the American people's religious beliefs have on our national politics. An emergence that none should be surprised at, considering the religious roots that this nation was founded upon. In their books Democracy in America and Leviathan, Alexis DeTocqueville and Thomas Hobbes have examined the influence religious beliefs have in the context of America and in political regimes in general."

Tags:democracy, enslavement, equality, politics

Abstract
This book analyzes the book "Democracy in America", which was written in the middle of the nineteenth century by French traveler, Alec de Tocqueville. The author of this paper maintains that de Tocqueville's portrayal of his vision of the character and future of American society was practically prophetic. The paper reviews within a modern context de Tocquevill's references to the entrenched materialism and commercialism; class conflict; separate spheres for men and women; and of a confusion between freedom and equality. The paper illustrates how most of de Tocqueville's observations and analyses of the United States remain relevant today, more than a hundred years later.

From the Paper
"For instance, in Chapter One of the second book of Democracy in America, the author states, "...equality, pushed to its furthest extent, may be confounded with freedom, yet there is good reason for distinguishing the one from the other. The taste which men have for liberty and that which they feel for equality are, in fact, two different things," (para. 5). The difference between liberty and equality, which is rarely vocalized as bluntly as it is in de Tocqueville's work, has been one of the underlying themes running throughout the course of American history. Whether class conflict, racial division, or gender role differentiation, American society has fulfilled de Tocqueville's image: "for equality their passion is ardent, insatiable, incessant, invincible; they call for equality in freedom; and if they cannot obtain that, they still call for equality in slavery." Similarly, de Tocqueville summed up the nature of American materialism: "The heart of man is of a larger mold; it can at once comprise a taste for the possessions of earth and the love of those of heaven; at times it may seem to cling devotedly to the one, but it will never be long without thinking of the other," (Book 2, Ch. 15). Regarding most matters of American society and ideology such as gender and race relations; class conflict; political climate; and material culture, de Tocqueville hits the nail on the head; only a few of De Tocqueville's observations were off the mark."

Tags:democracy, capitalism, freedom, liberty, american, class, social, sphere, commercialism

Abstract
This paper discusses how Alexis de Tocqueville's seminal work on democracy, "Democracy in America", has shaped America's self-vision and global theory on democracy since it was released in 1835. It looks at how the first volume of Tocqueville's work, then, dealt extensively with the history and formation of American democracy, especially concerning itself with the details of jurisdictions, applications, and details of the American system of governance. It also examines how, when five years later he revisited his earlier topic, he focused less on the nature of the body of government and more on the nature of the governed and the peculiarities of environment, social structure, and personal mores that allowed democracy to function as it did. It shows how there is a relatively short space between these two works and how most of their central theses and themes are overlapping and indistinguishable. The primary differences between the two are the subject matter (institutions versus populations), the greater degree to which the second develops a thesis rather than merely describing a phenomena, the treatment of aristocracy and equality within America, and the degree to which Tocqueville appears optimistic about the prospects of the nation.

From the Paper
"In both works Tocqueville is largely complementary towards the system. Especially in he first volume, he seems to uphold this model as one of the finest to be followed by the nations of Europe, though he seems skeptical that it could be entirely reproduced in a different environment and social climate. In the second, however, while still praising the system he has a tendency to criticize the citizens of America and their nature. While he sees a number of important moral and religious positives within American culture that are encouraged by their system of government (especially regarding the treatment of women, marriage, and the family), he also seems to embrace an idea of the American people as less intelligent, less prone to works of artistic genius and worth, and generally more bombastic and insufferable than their European counterparts."

Tags:jurisdictions, government, equality

Abstract
This paper discusses how Alexis de Tocqueville in "Democracy in America" and Michael J. Sandel in "Democracy's Discontent" both address issues of democracy, freedom, the role of government, and the good citizen. It looks at how their viewpoints differ because they write at different times of history. De Tocqueville writes at a time when democracy is a novel ideal. Aristocracy has been the main form of government, and this, therefore, plays a major role in his writing. Sandel, on the other hand, deals with contemporary issues such as the global community and the implications of new technology and diminishing boundaries among people.

From the Paper
"De Tocqueville stresses the importance of civil equality in the achievement of true democracy. This equality implies the lack of divisions and barriers between social classes. This is the equality that he sees in American culture as opposed to European culture that still subscribes to the aristocratic means of government. The democratic ideal implies more freedom than would be possible with an aristocratic government: "Let us suppose that all the people take a part in the government, and that each one of them has an equal right to take a part in it. As no one is different from his fellows, none can exercise a tyrannical power; men will be perfectly free because they are all entirely equal" (De Tocqueville, Book II, Chapter I)."

Tags:global, aristocracy, technology

Abstract
This paper examines how the book, "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville, considers the phenomenon of democracy as it manifests itself in the United States. It looks at how, apart from legislative authority, democracy carries with it certain dangers that, if not properly dealt with, will result in despotism by the majority.

Outline
The Love for Equality
Individualism
Materialism
The Preservation of Liberty in the Face of Democracy
Association and Press
Religion
De Tocqueville's Relevance

From the Paper
"The main premise for this argument include the sovereignty of the people and the power of public opinion. De Tocqueville sensibly argues that equality precludes the importance of any one person's rule over another, since nobody can claim to be more important than any other. However, to establish order in society, a certain rulership has to be established. The only way to achieve this is by the rulership of the majority, which then can lead to despotism. This happens by means of tyranny of the majority. Because everybody is seen as equal, no opinion is more important than any other. Thus, the opinion of the majority is in effect adhered to, in order to satisfy the majority. A further implication of equality is that the minority, being equal to the majority, has not right to disagree with the majority, as this implies that such an opinion is more important than that of the majority. This is the basis of despotism; that the minority is helpless to resist the general opinion, and thus liberty is undermined."

Tags:liberty, materialism, religion, individualism, equality

Abstract
This paper discusses Alexis de Tocqueville's book, "Democracy in America," translated by Arthur Goldhammer. The paper discusses Tocquville's view that religion - and in particular, Christianity - acts as a buffer to individualism and materialism and their potentially adverse effects. It specifically looks at the role of Christianity in American society.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Spirit of Religion
Potential Problems in America's Nascent Democratic Society: Isolation and Individualism, and Extreme Materialism
Religion Counteracts the Potential Problems in America and Contributes Greatly to the Continued Prosperity of the Democracy
Conclusion

From the Paper
"In Democracy in America, Tocqueville made it clear that although the equality of conditions in America has given the budding country much hope, it has also given the young democracy much to fear. Among the main problems that Tocqueville saw as inherent in American democracy are the country's isolationist tendencies (and, consequently, its inclination towards individualism), and its proclivity for an extreme form of materialism. According to Tocqueville, religion - and in particular, Christianity - acts as a buffer to individualism and materialism and their potentially adverse effects; moreover, Christianity additionally plays a "positive" role by contributing greatly to the well-being and prosperity of American society. In particular, Tocqueville claimed that Christianity's acceptance of its limits (e.g. by staying far removed from political concerns, and by being keenly observant of and sensitive to public opinion), as well as its ability to actively and successfully give moral guidance, make it the best religion for American democracy."

Tags:materialism, despotism, order

Abstract
This essay explores the interrelation of the concepts of equality, freedom and democracy in history as portrayed in Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America".

Tags:tocqueville, equality, freedom

Abstract
The paper describes how "Democracy in America" discusses the features of American political culture that help balance democracy and elitism in the United States. The paper further discusses how these features include a deep love for equality, even more than liberty or freedom; an absence of tradition; individualism; the pressure to accept majority opinion; and the importance of free association.

From the Paper
"Equality, writes Tocqueville, is a uniquely American concept, and one that American citizens hold especially dear, sometimes even at the expense of liberty: "No novelty in the United States struck me more vividly during my stay there than the equality of conditions. It was easy to see the immense influence of this basic fact on the whole course of society. . . . [I]t creates opinions, gives birth to feelings, suggests customs, and modifies whatever it does not create" (Tocqueville, Democracy in America, p. 9)
"

Tags:federal, tax, laws, poor, despotism, individual, rights, freedoms