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 paper discusses how the author's American dream is one where all men are given the same opportunity to succeed. The author also briefly explains how Ben Franklin's five aspects on success in life have had a positive effect on how he perceives his dreams. The paper also looks at how DeTocqueville has had a negative effect on the author's dream
by saying that Americans have no morality when it comes to money and how by comparison, James Adam's theory puts the responsibility on the individual to take on their own personal American dream.

From the Paper
"Certainly, the American dream involves prosperity and success. Benjamin Franklin's five aspects of becoming successful are fundamental to fulfilling the American Dream. For example, Benjamin Franklin once said, "What is the American Dream?...the rise from rags to riches" (Quoted by Lemay 23) Benjamin Franklin has a great influence on my American Dream because his lack of money never restrained him from working and making something of himself. As a result, Benjamin Franklin greatly influenced my conception of the American dream by setting an example of how hard work in this country is rewarded. "

Tags:democracy, freedom

Abstract
This paper reviews the writings of Alexis de Tocqueville and how they might illuminate the nation-building effort now taking place in Iraq or the need to address the provision of disaster relief in the region of the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Katrina. The paper continues by pointing out that these are two issues de Tocqueville knew nothing about but which do reflect certain elements in his analysis of American society.

From the Paper
"One of the earliest analyses of American culture was that of Alexis de Tocqueville, a French visitor who traveled the country in 1835 and 1840 and commented on what he saw and experienced. What he writes raises issues of the meaning of democracy, the society that can support democracy, and some of the ways each may change over time. While De Tocqueville knew nothing of the nation-building effort now taking place in Iraq or the need to address the provision of disaster relief in the region of the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Katrina, his ideas about how democracy works are cogent and applicable to the way the United States government is responding to each of these issues. The social condition of equality is the moving force and principle of democratic regimes, and for de Tocqueville this is the fundamental fact from which all others must be derived."

Tags:detocqueville, iraq, hurricane