Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy in America

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Recommended: The evolution of democracy

Democracy in America has been a guiding principle since the foundation of the country. 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. Alexis de Tocqueville was a French political thinker and historian born July 29, 1805. He is most famously known for his work Democracy in America. Democracy in America has been an evolving social and economic reform, and has continually changed since it’s founding.

America’s form of representative democracy came as a result of the transgressions Britain committed against their colonies. Several hundred years of salutary neglect served well for those living an ocean away from their motherland. Realizing the prosperity that colonies had obtained through a semi-free market society, the King of England and the parliament began enacting many taxes and acts. Taking away the colonies freedom was unsettling amongst the colonists and eventually led to a revolution. This revolution secured freedom from Britain as well as founded a new nation with the first ever constitution. Although the process to achieve democracy in America was a long, laborious road the freedom, prosperity and equality of opportunity shared by those amongst the states could not be denied.

In a time of uncertainty and turmoil in France, Alexis de Tocqueville came to America under the pretense of studying the American penal system, which was considered the best in the world at that time. The July Revolution of 1830, led to the

Louise-Philippe to take the throne. This left Tocqueville in a crisis, with his father in a loss of position, as well as his own career in a precarious position, ...

... middle of paper ...

...an can be seen as a one of the greatest achievements in the nation and arguably the world. At the same time affording the opportunity for focus solely on the material aspects of life and not on the beliefs that made the country great.

Works Cited

de Tocqueville, Alexis. Democracy in America. New York: Schocken, 1961.

Goldhammer, Arthur. "From the OED:." Www.people2.fas.harvard.edu. Web. 27 Feb.

2012..

Johri, Vikram. "'Alexis De Tocqueville': The First French Critic of the US." The

Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2007. Web.

27 Feb. 2012. .

Reeve, Henry. "Democracy in America: TOC." American Studies @ The University of

Virginia. Web. 27 Feb. 2012.

.

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