What is Alexis de Tocqueville best known for?

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Alexis de Tocqueville, (born July 29, 1805, Paris, France—died April 16, 1859, Cannes), political scientist, historian, and politician, best known for Democracy in America, 4 vol. (1835–40), a perceptive analysis of the political and social system of the United States in the early 19th century.



Similarly one may ask, why is Alexis de Tocqueville important?

Tocqueville believed that the American jury system was particularly important in educating citizens in self-government and rule of law. He often expressed how the civil jury system was one of the most effective showcases of democracy because it connected citizens with the true spirit of the justice system.

Subsequently, question is, what does Alexis de Tocqueville mean? Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–1859) was a French political philosopher, statesman, and author of two seminal works in the history of political thought, Democracy in America and The Old Regime and the Revolution. Tocqueville understands democracy not merely as self-government but as a comprehensive way of life.

Consequently, what did Alexis de Tocqueville observed about American culture?

Alexis de Tocqueville: “Democracy in America” As “Democracy in America” revealed, Tocqueville believed that equality was the great political and social idea of his era, and he thought that the United States offered the most advanced example of equality in action.

What is Tocqueville's main thesis?

In Democracy in America, de Toqueville's main thesis is that the United States has, unlike France, developed a working, viable democracy and republic (non-monarchial state). He asks why this might be, and he comes up with several answers; he feels these answers will be useful for the European states.

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What was Alexis de Tocqueville's impact on democracy?

Tocqueville speculates on the future of democracy in the United States, discussing possible threats to democracy and possible dangers of democracy. These include his belief that democracy has a tendency to degenerate into "soft despotism" as well as the risk of developing a tyranny of the majority.

Who said the tyranny of the majority?

Curriculum Details. In 1831 an ambitious and unusually perceptive twenty-five-year-old French aristocrat visited the United States. Alexis de Tocqueville's official purpose was to study the American penal system, but his real interest was America herself.

What is the US best known for?

The United States of America is a North American nation that is the world's most dominant economic and military power. Likewise, its cultural imprint spans the world, led in large part by its popular culture expressed in music, movies and television.

When did Tocqueville die?

April 16, 1859

What aspect of American society is most striking to Tocqueville?

But for Tocqueville the most striking condition of American society was equality. Tocqueville was amazed at American society's pluralism.

What were Alexis de Tocqueville's 5 values?

Terms in this set (7)
  • Alexis de Tocqueville. *Author of Democracy in America.
  • Tocqueville's 5 Values. Liberty.
  • Liberty. freedom from arbitrary / tyrrnaical government control.
  • Egalitarianism. society of equals; there is no permanent class structure.
  • Individualism.
  • Populism.
  • Laissez-Faire.

What is tyranny of minority?

The tyranny of the majority (or tyranny of the masses) is an inherent weakness to majority rule in which the majority of an electorate pursues exclusively its own interests at the expense of those in the minority.

What were the main reasons for American exceptionalism According to Alexis de Tocqueville?

He suggests these historians reason as follows: America marches to a different drummer. Its uniqueness is explained by any or all of a variety of reasons: history, size, geography, political institutions, and culture.

What major difference did Tocqueville witness when he visited America in 1831?


Alexis Clérel Viscount de Tocqueville from France visited America in 1831 and found as major differences from American socio political system, its focus on individualism as an anchor and essential part of its democratic system, the political apathy of its citizens produced by the distrust on social authorities and a

What qualities led to America's exceptional success as a democratic republic?

Answer: The qualities that let to America's success are liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism among others. Explanation: The main quality that let to America's success is it's commitment to liberty in a sense that each and every individual is responsible for his/her actions.

What is America's democracy?

Democratic republic. A democratic republic is a form of government operating on principles adopted from a republic and a democracy. Rather than being a cross between two entirely separate systems, democratic republics may function on principles shared by both republics and democracies.

What do u mean by democracy?

Democracy is a system of government in which people choose their rulers by voting for them in elections. the spread of democracy in Eastern Europe. A democracy is a country in which the people choose their government by voting for it.

What major difference did Tocqueville?

Alexis de Tocqueville visited the US in 1831 to study the prison system and how it could be applied to France. Tocqueville reported in his book "Democracy in America" that the people of the US focused on equality and individualism. He marked how all people have a voice in society and was impressed by this.

How did Andrew Jackson represent what Alexis de Tocqueville recognized as the American character?


During the years 1831 and 1832, the Frenchman Alexis de Toqueville toured the United States. His classic Democracy in America identified democracy and equality as salient national traits. Tocqueville saw America as "the image of democracy itself, with its inclinations, its character, its prejudices, and its passions."

How did Alexis de Tocqueville die?

Tuberculosis

Is Tocqueville's soft despotism the fate of democracy?

Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism gives people the illusion that they are in control, when in fact they have very little influence over their government.