Compare And Contrast The Differences Between The French And The American Government

The French and American Revolution had similar goals, and were caused by the lack of the same things. First came the American Revolution: the movement that formed the United States. Later, the French Revolution came inspired by the Americans. Both of these revolutions were lead by leaders including: George Washington was the commander and chief of the American Revolution. Maximillien Robespierre the leader of the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution. Cornwallis The leader of Britian in the American Revolution. John Adams who signed the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson the author of the Declaration of Independence.

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

The French and American Revolutions were significant revolutionary movements that essentially played a vital role in shaping modern nations. Both revolutions are known for successfully abolishing their former absolute monarchies to constitutional monarchies and democracies. The French Revolution was an important age of political and social turmoil in France that lasted from 1789 to 1799. Likewise, the American Revolution was also a political and social upheaval that took place from 1765 to 1783, where the colonists in the thirteen colonies rejected the British rule and were eventually able to defeat Britain’s authority hence creating the United States of America. The French and American revolutions have similar causes such as the emphasis on

Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville includes Tocqueville’s observations on what American society and culture was like during the 1830’s. Throughout his analysis of America, he draws many outlandish and interesting conclusions regarding what life was like during this time period. For example, in Chapter 18, Tocqueville remarks that citizens in democratic societies are independent, which makes them weak and subsequently uninfluential in society. He goes on to say that in order to combat this, associations must be established to combat individualism and to circulate new thoughts and ideas. All in all, Tocqueville’s claim is certainly valid, but only up to a certain point because there were a select few of individuals that were able to make an influence on society without the help from any associations.

Count Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) was a part of the French government and held many positions as a magistrate and political observer. Most of his observations were done on political observations and writings workings of the United States. After some time, he became a reliable source for historical and contemporary aspects of American culture. In Origin of Anglo-Americans Tocqueville makes an excellent point,

Toqueville suggests that white men have the most power from compared to African Americans and Native Americans, but inferences that when African Americans will start to move away from their slave culture, it will be nightmare for the south. He makes a statement that soon, Native Americans will slowly die out, which is theoretically correct today. Toqueville’s observations and predictions were quite on par because today the population of Native Americans is extremely minimal, and the slave culture does not exist today in the United States, and is pretty much outlawed.

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

Nations differ in language, faith, culture, traditions and views. Thus, each government created distinctly different and formulated to best govern its constituents. This causes nations to function in a variety of ways as well as have varying public opinion. The differences represented in America at the time Tocqueville visited and wrote his book were what shaped his opinion of the differences between the United States and other countries. The first major difference Tocqueville observed upon arriving in America is the role faith played amongst the inhabitants especially Christianity.

After the geographical location in context of America is explored, Tocqueville begins his exploration of the origins of Anglo-American people in society.

And this belief is what motivated his deep interest in America, his visit persuaded him that America had achieved in a peaceful and natural way almost complete equality of conditions. He said if we understand America, we could not only understand what democracy means, but in a way even take a look into the world’s future. He wrote, “ I confess, that in America I saw more than America; I sought the image of democracy itself, with its inclinations, its character, its prejudices, and its passions, in order to learn what we have to fear or hope from its progress.” (Democracy in America Volume I) He thought he saw the outlines of a new kind of society, which would slowly become that kind of society for the rest of the world. He saw at first hand democratized society. America became somewhat apprehensive of what they thought. America achieved its independence and many of the French supported America. Many Frenchmen learned their lesson when they came here and then they went back and began. Tocqueville saw the industrial revolution the enlightenment, and the

Alexis de Tocqueville was a French philosopher who came to united states in 1831 to study about innovative prisons but later he got interested in studying about human behavior and sociology. After two years when he went back to his country he wrote two books about the democracy of America in which he wrote about society and government. and three races in the united states. When he came to united states he was

To be sure, Tocqueville understood the families from America who desired material comfort, because he was from the wealth aristocratic French family, and he attributed the inherited wealth and customs from European descent. The fear of losing owned property played a major factor in their maintaining their wealth. Alexis saw the pursuit of material wealth an important to the middle class movement in a democracy, because it opens up opportunities to the lower class as well. Surely Alexis did observe many who were in poverty and earned their wealth, in and those also learn to live in comfort, but the majority of the aristocratic class were old money. He also noted how unhappy those free, educated, and prosperous individuals’ were during his visit

He warns from such a phenomena that will make people become selfish and will only care about their own good. When people care for what only benefits them, they turn to isolation which will feed despotism. According to Tocqueville, people tend to choose individualism that separates each man from the society to follow his own circle of friends or family. Tocqueville believes that people tendency to retreat from what happens in their society can lead to a disastrous fate. He describes this fate of democratic nations

"We should set out to create not a colony properly speaking in Algeria, but rather the extension of France itself across the Mediterranean.” Words spoken by Alexis de Tocqueville himself, the man who was known to have the answer to the question of Algeria. He believed strongly in racial segregation in Algeria and saw this as an important factor if France wished to make Algeria an extension of its state. This lack of French social cohesion was something Tocqueville studied at length after his experience in America. He believed “that the French needed a national project to bring the country together, and the conquest and settlement of Algeria could be it.” Unlike the United States, Tocqueville saw the fundamental inequality of French society as a major obstacle to social cohesion as even the growing middle class in France was seeing themselves as