Alexis De Tocqueville's Democracy In America

In Caitlin Flanagan’s Is There Hope for the American Marriage, she establishes the foundation for what the American Marriage means in today’s world by arguing that marriages are likely to collapse over time. With this being said, Flanagan goes on to depict the fragility of marriage during times of adversity, and how susceptible the couples can be when searching for alternative bonds from people other than their own partner, even if it means making moral sacrifices. Through a series of anecdotes from sources like herself to politicians, she further expands on this idea that the ideal marriage is nothing but a hoax for the likelihood of publicity. Flanagan includes sources from sociologists, such as Andrew J. Cherlin and Maria Kefalas, both whom

According to Tocqueville, the American social condition is eminently democratic, ultimately paving the way for the United States to become a society of equality. He interprets the topic of equality to be a negative element of democracy, as it has the tendency to deter individuals, who in a more aristocratic society, would become outstanding individuals, from reaching their highest potential. Although saddened by this fact, Tocqueville quickly notes that this is unfortunately inevitable. He introduces a new concept that arises from times of equality, individualism. Tocqueville defines individualism as, “a reflective and quiet sentiment that inclines each individual to distance himself from a crowd of peers and to draw apart with his own family and friends; in this way, he builds his own private world, willingly leaving the larger world to itself.” He warns of the dangers associated with individualism and how individualism can eventually merge into what he refers to as egoism. The autobiographies included in First Person Past emphasize the results of these individualistic motives through the lives of

Alexis de Tocqueville's visit to the United States in the early part of the nineteenth century prompted his work Democracy in America, in which he expressed the ability to make democracy work. Throughout his travels Tocqueville noted that private interest and personal gain motivated the actions of most Americans, which in turn cultivated a strong sense of individualism. Tocqueville believed that this individualism would soon "sap the virtue of public life" (395) and create a despotism of selfishness. This growth of despotism would be created by citizens becoming too individualistic, and therefore not bothering to fulfill their civic duties or exercise their freedom. Tocqueville feared that the political order of America would soon become

In Andrew J. Cherlin’s essay “American Marriage In Transition”, he discusses how marriage in America is evolving from the universal marriage. Cherlin’s definition of the universal marriage in his essay is the man is the breadwinner of the household and the woman is the homemaker. In the 20th century according to Cherlin, the meaning of marriage has been altered such as the changing division of labor, childbearing outside of marriage, cohabitation, gay marriage and the result of long- term cultural and material trends (1154). During the first transition of marriage, Cherlin discusses how in America, Europe, and Canada the only socially accepted way to have sexual relations with a person and to have children is to be married (1154). The second change in marriage occurred in 2000, where the median age of marriage in the United States for men is 27 and women is 25 (1155). Many young adults stayed single during this time and focused on their education and starting their careers. During the second change, the role of law increasingly changed, especially in the role of law in divorce (1155). It is proven in today’s research marriage has a different definition than what it did back in the 1950’s. Today marriage can be defined as getting married to the same gender or getting remarried to someone who already has kids. The roles in a marriage are evolving to be a little more flexible and negotiable. However, women still do a lot of the basic household chores and taking care of the

Alexis de Tocqueville was a French aristocrat and adventurer who spent nine months traveling America during 1831. He wrote a book “Democracy in America” about his adventure and experiences in America. He was a well educated European who spoke to many important figures of the time and this helped to develop very good insight about current American culture. Some of his adventures include steamboat, visited the Eastern cities, stayed in a log cabin, and even explored the northwestern frontier. He wrote this book for the French audience, and was hoping to better explain what democracy was so it could help France transition into a democracy. He believed that Democracy was the way of the future, and he was a strong supporter of Democracy. His book

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.

Alexis de Tocqueville was born on July 29, 1805, in Paris, France. He was a historian, political scientist, and a politician, but he is best known as the author of Democracy in America. He began his political career as an apprentice magistrate, a role he was easily able to enter into due to his father’s role in French government. In the role of apprentice magistrate, Tocqueville witnessed the constitutional upheaval between the conservatives and liberals in France. With the inevitable decline of the aristocratic privilege on the horizon, he began to study the English political development. For Tocqueville, the July Revolution of 1830 and the resulting kingship of Louis Philippe of Orleans helped

The American lifestyle from the early days of settlement until the 1900s can be summed up simply in one quote; “America holds that every association must have a head in order to accomplish its object and that the natural conjugation is a man” ( “How Americans Understand the Equality of the Sexes) Up until the 1900s, the typical American man was depicted as conquering the workplace, politics and dominating at home, while women were forced to tend to their homely duties, Woman  had no rights and nor did any other human who was not a white male. While reading and interpreting Alexis de Toquevilles “How Americans Understand the Quality of Sexes 1840s” and Elizabeth Caddy Santon The Declaration of Sentiments we are able to see the similarities

Today, politics have a huge influence in this world. So who helped developed the basis of all these politics? Their names are John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Baron de Montesquieu. These three men had their own ideals of how a government should be ran and had much respect from the colonists. Without Locke, Rousseau, or Montesquieu, people today would not be as advanced in government.

Tocqueville chapters one through eight summarize the American Democracy motif as understood by Tocqueville. The concept of equality, governmental structuralization and the power of the press. Tocqueville affirmed the notion that in times of equality people have the tendency to look for advantages. Tocqueville writes, "Such men will freely admit the general principle that the power of the state should not interfere in private affairs, but as an exception, each one of them wants the state to help in the special matter with which he is preoccupied, and he wants to lead government on to take action in his domain, though he would like to restrict it in every other direction." This quote epitomizes the very reality of our Democracy at present. When

Greg Pohodich Awesome Title that I have not thought of yet While the idea of Manifest Destiny had not been spread yet, the expansion of the US transportation system was the beginning steps. One of these routes led through the village of Rochester, which became an economic boomtown due to the Erie Canal. Social order began to change, the masters and elite grew wealthy, and journeymen lost their place in the household. As society transformed into this new system in the 1920s, unrest began.

I have recently read your novel Democracy in America, and as one of the founding fathers of America, I would like to give you my input. I have my own ideas on how our democracy should be run and can see that we both share similar and contrasting beliefs specifically in relation to the chapter in your novel, “Unlimited Power of the Majority in the United States, and Its Consequences”.

I chose these chapters to read and analyze because they dissect the mind of Tocqueville as he internally weighed the pros and cons of a democracy versus an aristocracy. He displays the positive aspects of a democracy, as well as the negative counterparts, along with what he approves of and what changes he could possibly make to better the American system of government. Coming from an aristocratic background, Tocqueville challenges himself to open his mind to the idea of a legislation ruled by the people. Initially he believes it to be inevitable, and eventually he embraces democracy in America. Tocqueville points out that a democracy is more for humanity than an aristocracy because a democratic government incorporates the interests of the poor

The classic work Democracy In America by Alexis de Tocqueville has been the reason for scholarly pursuit as well as strife within that same community. Through a brief examination of this text, several of Tocqueville’s arguments helped to define many of the constructs that made America what it was as well as those that have led to what it has become today. Of the many themes and ideas presented by Tocqueville, his thoughts on individualism struck the loudest chord with me.

For a thousand years, the institution of marriage has reigned supreme in our society. From an early age, women are groomed to attract men’s attention and the idea that not only should get married, but have to get married, is instilled in them. Media portrays happy brides being walked down the aisle by their fathers, but fail to show the sinister and harmful implications that ritual has for all women. In this paper, I will be arguing for the abolition of one of the most harmful institutions in our patriarchal society: marriage.