Alexis de Tocqueville had seen the various attempts his country of France had failed in putting in place a democratic government. He thus became curious and wanted to study the existent prosperous, democratic governments of the time and know their operations. The results of his studies made him conclude that although the move towards democracy had gained much ground in America, it was a global trend that would slowly become a permanent phenomenon that could not be interfered with. This is what Craiutu and Jennings concluded as being the motivation for his tour to America.
Gustave de Beaumont and Alexis de Tocqueville were in 1831 permitted to go to the United States to study the country’s prison system. They had been uncomfortable with the government of the day in France and therefore looked for something that would make them be away from France. The two were eager to see America and were also intrigued by the idea of American democracy. They therefore undertook a long exploratory trip to the United States for a period of nine months. They travelled as far as Michigan to the west and to New Orleans to the south and spent most of this time in Philadelphia, Boston and New York. The elite in these towns welcomed them, and they had no problem interacting with a number of the most influential and popular thinkers of the time.
Tocqueville did interviews with different people in the American society; from presidents, bankers and lawyers to settlers. Apart from fulfilling their initial assignment regarding the penitentiary system in the United States, the two also undertook their individual studies and Tocqueville analyzed American democracy’s sociological and political aspects. Whatever he saw there, whomever he spoke to, whatever he read or heard was essential in his analyses. He compares France and America with regard to democracy in America and aristocracy in France.
His observations concerning the American society were later published in Democracy in America, a two-volume text. He praises America’s legal and political systems in his attempt to bring the idea of democracy home to his countrymen and natives of Europe. In the same light, he warns of potential drawbacks of democracy, for example, through the principle of equality it is possible for a democracy to become a tyranny of the majority. The structures of the United States’ government together with the judicial system have been well analyzed and adequately reported in the text in addition to such aspects as culture and society.
It is evident from Tocqueville’s work that the American Society consisted of individualism, the love for equality, tyranny of the majority, lack of tradition and the value of free association. The journal therefore is not flawed in its analysis. Tocqueville compares the people’s lives in the United States and the lives of people in France, and on occasion England. From the book’s onset, it is clear that it generally is comparative in nature. The journal reveals that the equality of conditions is an inevitable process that cannot be avoided, is universal, and all people are focused at ensuring it progresses.
In Craiutu and Jennings’ view, Tocqueville wishes to see democracy prevail in his own nation of France. He mentions that he is not just merely satisfying his own curiosity but that he intends to see his own benefit out of his examinations. He views the United States as a successful democracy in comparison with his own native France which he hopes will become equally so. He mentions of the revolutions in Europe and America and compares the two. He asserts that the revolutions in these two parts of the world differed in that as opposed to the American Revolution that was lawful and orderly, the revolution in Europe was ostensibly marred by anarchy, lawlessness and disorder. In addition, they were also not well defined.
In his various comparisons between America and European nations, he tries to give explanations as to why things are the way they are in America. He is one of the brains behind the notion of American exceptionalism. By singling out America and taking the time to examine its structures in the organization of society, culture and politics, and comparing with those in European countries, he establishes that America is superior and thus exceptional. He dwells on the American federal system and praises its framework arguing that it is a practicable one, giving a brief background as to how it came about and concluding that not all states enjoyed the gains from the system. He notes that the United States is the only nation in which there has been both tremendous tranquil and natural societal growth. Tocqueville expresses that it is also the only country whose future condition has been determined by its past.
The text offers to the readers a system of democracy in America that is successful and very much accomplished. The system had political centralization and administrative decentralization both combined. These provided for self-governance and also ensured there were enough checks and the separation of powers was judicious in nature. According to Tocqueville, the Americans had found a solution to one of the very important and ancient philosophical questions in politics. That is, they showed the world what the best system of government was.
Tocqueville examines the theme of slavery and race relations in his last chapter of the first volume of Democracy in America. He predicts the transformation of the American nation whereby the native races would gradually begin to disappear, and the blacks would have their destiny in sync with that of whites. He understood that the nation’s great challenge lay in slavery as it had rooted in the people a certain prejudice that appeared to be unchanged. In the same chapter, he also examines the federal government’s relationship with the various states that comprised America. He explains that, at the time of his arrival, the federal power seemed to be declining. From his statements, it can be established that he thought the federal government was a weak system of governance. He however expresses positivity concerning its survival as there were strong institutions that were republican and enjoyed good will from the people.
He perceives America to be a mature democracy that was capable of dealing with its own challenges as regards slavery, population growth, as well as territorial expansion. He expressed hope that as a nation America would rise to become a premier power and provide a political model for other countries of the world. In his second volume, he advances this hope despite limitations of democracy that he brings to his readers’ attention. His focus here mainly concerns the life of a democratic individual in the age of equality.
According to Tocqueville, the American people were responsible citizens who had sufficient knowledge about their rights and interests. They were moderates and could not be swayed easily by demagogues. This account by Tocqueville as regards the American people’s temperance and common sense made the thought that democracy could lead to turmoil because of increasing multiplicity of individual interests seem unfounded.
According to this journal, volume one of Tocqueville’s writing expresses optimism and deals mostly with government structure and institutions that facilitate the maintenance of freedom in the United States. The second volume focuses on individuals and the outcomes of the democratic mentality with regard to the societal thoughts. The reviewers of this article assert that from the text it can be established that the shortcomings of democracy include too much push for equality, abuse of freedom, materialism, too much power in the hands of a few; the legislature and individualism. Tocqueville’s work lists elite women, freedom of the press, religion, and an autonomous judiciary, freedom of association, self-governance at the local level, a solid executive and decentralization of administration as essential elements in addressing these challenges.
Too much power in the legislative arm is one of the great dangers that face the American democracy from Tocqueville’s studies. Others are inherent in attitudes and tendencies of the American society coupled with a number of institutional difficulties. The view that the legislature conforms to the people’s will because of direct representation has made it have the most power as compared to other levels of government. It is feared that when there are insufficient checks the system might become tyrannical. The other danger is the excess passion for equality. So as to ensure all are equal then the majority’s will becomes the basis for decisions. What will result therefore is despotism as the majority will reigns over that of the minority.
The journal explains that such themes as the situation of women, the federal constitution, and the Puritan’s contribution are the main themes. Other themes that run in the text include tyranny of the majority, materialism, individualism, mores, laws and circumstances, religion and beliefs, associations among others. Tocqueville analyzes the status of women in an American society and concludes that it is a positive development to have separate spheres of men and women as in the American case. He discloses the contribution made by Puritans in the establishment of America’s democracy. They made a contribution in religion and matters of political liberation. It is also the Principle of the people’s sovereignty in Fundamental Orders of Connecticut established by the Puritans that became popularized by the American Revolution, as well as the Constitutional Convention later on that led to the federal constitution. The journal gave a true representation of reality.
Aurelian Craiutu and Jeremy Jennings present Alexis de Tocqueville’s writing in a very profound manner. Their interpretation of the text is well on course and they do not disappoint. Only that they fail to mention certain features of the American society that Tocqueville disapproved. For example, they do not mention about his fears concerning certain aspects of republican self-government. Apart from that, the journal explores in depth Tocqueville’s perception, understanding and attitude towards the American democracy in its analysis.
Democracy in America is still relevant in the American society to this day. Current conservatives revere these writings as explorative of individual liberty as well as the failures of governments and human kind. Tocqueville’s view on racial relations is still key in America. He is disgusted with the shameful treatment of the natives and perceives slavery as economically inefficient. He expresses dislike in the way former slaves are treated in the Free states. As long as democracy continues to prevail in America and the nation continues to exist as a republic, then this text will continue to be relevant to the masses. Though this was not addressed to detail in the journal, the review gave a concrete presentation of Alexis de Tocqueville’s writing and it was objective in its outline.
Works Cited
Craiutu, Aurelian and Jeremy Jennings. "The Third Democracy: Tocqueville's View of America after 1840." American Political Science Review (2004): 391-404.
