Democracy in america alexis de tocqueville barnes and noble

Democracy in america has had the singular honor of being even to this day the work that political commentators of every stripe refer to when they seek to draw large conclusions about the society of the united states. Hailed by john stuart mill and horace greely as the finest book ever written on the nature of democracy, it continues to be an influential text on both sides of the atlantic, above all in the emerging democracies of eastern europe. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. The abridged edition of the enduring masterworka classic portrait of americas culture and people. This did not mean, as so many have believed after the fall of the berlin wall in 1989, that the political apparatus of democracy would sweep the world.

Natural strength of the majority in democracies most of the american constitutions have increased this strength by artificial means how this has been done pledged delegates moral power of the majority opinion as to its. The democratic concept of equality was emerging as a political reality in america, and it threatened the aristocracy of europe. It is, perhaps, the greatest work ever written on one country by the citizen of another. Jaume, who probably knows tocquevilles intellectual world better than anyone else alive, has reconstructed his reading in intricate detail, and brilliantly demonstrates the way particular themes and passages in democracy in america relate to it. Henry reeve, the pennsylvania state university, electronic classics series, jim manis, faculty editor, hazleton, pa 182011291 is a portable document file produced as part of an ongoing student publication. What struck him most was the countrys equality of conditions, its democracy. Over the ocean, he went on a trip, in which he was to study the prison system of the united states. Introduced by historian olivier zunz, here is tocquevilles brilliant. In both he analyzed the improved living standards and social conditions.

It remains the most often quoted book about the united states, not only because. Doubting whether the american experiment in equality could work, tocqueville conjectured that democracy would erect a society that would succumb to a different type of tyranny than that of a monarchy or aristocracy that of the majority. Democracy in america is a classic of political philosophy. That the equality of conditions contributes to the maintenance of good morals in america. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The american republic will endure until the day congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the publics money. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. They investigated not just the prison system but indeed every aspect of american public and private lifethe political, economic, religious, cultural, and above all the social life of the young nation. He was best known for his works democracy in america appearing in two volumes, 1835 and 1840 and the old regime and the revolution 1856. Born a french aristocrat, he lost nearly his entire family in the reign of terror, and he spent most of his adult life struggling for liberty under the unsuccessful regimes of nineteenthcentury france. It remains the most often quoted book about the united states. A thoughtful young man in a stillyoung country, he succeeded in penning this penetrating study of americas people, culture, history, geography, politics, legal system, and economy. A treatise on government by the people in america in the 1830s.

Democracy in america chapter summaries course hero. He was best known for his works democracy in america and the old regime and the revolution. He wrote democracy in america after visiting the united states during which he observed various elements of the prison system. In the eleven years that separated the declaration of the independence of the united states from the completion of that act in the ordination of our written constitution, the great minds of america were bent upon the study of the principles of government that were essential to the preservation of the liberties which had been won at great cost and. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading democracy in america, volume i and ii optimized for kindle. This edition was translated by henry reeve in 18351840. Written nearly 170 years ago, democracy in america is a masterful display of insight and foresight into all things american. The book he wrote on his return to france, democracy in america, is both the best ever written on democracy and the best ever written on america.

Introduced by historian olivier zunz and presented with a fidelity. As is often found in democracy in america, the framework of this chapter features a contrast between aristocracy and d. Democracy in america has had the singular honor of being even to this day the work that political commentators of every stripe refer to when they seek to draw large conclusions about the society of the usa. Rather, tocqueville meant that as each nation left behind the vestiges of its aristocracy, life for its. Unlimited power of majority, and its consequences part i chapter summary. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. This edition, based on the revised and corrected text of the 1961 french. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read democracy in america. Leo damrosch talked about his book tocquevilles discovery of america farrar, straus and giroux, 2010. This edition, based on the revised and corrected text of the 1961 french edition and meticulously edited by.