Democracy in America: And Two Essays on America

Front Cover
Penguin UK, Apr 24, 2003 - Political Science - 992 pages

One of the most influential political texts ever written on America, and an indispensable authority on the nature of democracy

In 1831 Alexis de Tocqueville, a young French aristocrat and civil servant, made a nine-month journey through eastern America. The result was Democracy in America, a monumental study of the strengths and weaknesses of the nation's evolving politics. Tocqueville looked to the flourishing democratic system in America as a possible model for post-revolutionary France, believing its egalitarian ideals reflected the spirit of the age. This edition, the only one that contains all Tocqueville's writings on America, includes the rarely translated 'Two Weeks in the Wilderness', an evocative account of Tocqueville's travels among the Iroquois and Chippeway, and 'Excursion to Lake Oneida'.

Translated by Gerald Bevan with an Introduction and Notes by Isaac Kramnick

 

Selected pages

Contents

War of 1812 breaks out between Great Britain and
AUTHORS INTRODUCTION
the ruler upon high Any desire to halt democracy would then
PART 1
The Exterior Conguration of Northern America
The Social Condition of the AngloAmericans
The Principle of the Sovereignty of the People
Judicial Power in the United States and its Eects upon
In what Spirit the Americans Cultivate the Arts
How Literature Appears in Democratic Times
The Literature Industry
Why the Study of Greek and Latin Literature is Particularly Useful in Democratic Communities
How American Democracy Has Modied the English Language
A Few Sources of Poetry in Democratic Nations
Why American Writers and Speakers are Often Bombastic
A Few Remarks on the Theater of Democratic Nations

Political Jurisdiction in the United States
The Federal Constitution
PART 2
The Freedom of the Press in the United States
Political Associations in the United States
Government by Democracy in America
frightening spectacle the change carrying them along
our society is to educate democracy to reawaken if possible
What are the Real Advantages Derived by American
The Majority in the United States is AllPowerful
What Moderates the Tyranny of the Majority in
The Main Causes which Tend to Maintain a Democratic
A Few Remarks on the Presentday State and
THE AUTHORS NOTE TO THE SECOND VOLUME
Why the Americans Show More Aptitude and Taste
Particular Eects of the Love of Physical Pleasures
The Progress of Catholicism in the United States
Why Americans are More Attracted to Practical
Characteristics Peculiar to Historians in Democratic Ages
Parliamentary Eloquence in the United States
PART 2
Individualism in Democratic Countries
How Individualism is Greater at the End of a Democratic Revolution than at Any Other Period
How Americans Combat the Eects of Individualism by Free Institutions
The Use Americans Make of Public Associations in Civil Life
Connection Between Associations and Newspapers
Connections Between Civil and Political Associations CHAPTER 8 How Americans Counteract Individualism by the Doctrine of Selfinterest Properly ...
How Americans Apply the Doctrine of Selfinterest Properly Understood to Religious Matters
The Taste for Material Prosperity in America
Why Certain Americans Display an Exalted Form
How an Excessive Love of Prosperity Can Harm that
How an Aristocracy May Emerge from Industry
Consequences of the Three Preceding Chapters
How Democratic Institutions and Customs Tend to Raise
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

able achieve action administration advantages affairs allow already American appear aristocratic associations authority become believe body cause central CHAPTER citizens civil classes close common concerns constitution courts customs dangerous democracy democratic democratic nations dicult direct efforts elected England English equality established Europe European executive existence fact fear federal feel follow force France freedom give habits hand happens heart human ideas imagine important increase independence individual institutions interests inuence judge land language laws legislators less live majority matters means mind natural never observe opinions passions pleasures political position present principles race reason religion remain represent republic respect result rules seek share single social society soon South speak spirit taste things thought Tocqueville turn Union United wealth whole wish

About the author (2003)

The French sociologist and historian, Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-59) was active in the law and served for a time as foreign minister. He also wrote L'Ancien Régime. Gerald Bevan is the translator. Issac Kramnick is Professor of Government at Cornell and edited The Federalist Papers for Penguin.

Bibliographic information

TitleDemocracy in America: And Two Essays on America
Penguin classics
AuthorAlexis Tocqueville
EditorIsaac Kramnick
Translated byGerald Bevan
PublisherPenguin UK, 2003
ISBN0141915692, 9780141915692
Length992 pages
Subjects ›  › 

History / Americas (North, Central, South, West Indies)
History / Modern / General
History / United States / 19th Century
Literary Collections / Essays
Political Science / Political Ideologies / Democracy
  
Export CitationBiBTeX EndNote RefMan