In his book democracy in america french aristocrat

A french aristocrat visits jacksonian america in 1831, an ambitious and unusually. Tocqueville, a french aristocrat, toured america for seven months for the purpose of. On tocqueville examines the life and work of one of. He is best known for his works democracy in america appearing in two volumes, 1835 and 1840 and the old regime and the revolution 1856. The aristocracy, tocqueville believed, was gradually disappearing as the. The french aristocrat and lawyers democracy in america seemed to capture the united states better than many american writers did. Richard john on tocquevilles democracy in america the core.

Consequently, he used his time in america to analyze the improved living standards and individual social conditions which were induced by a stable democratic approach. Peter carey sketches a sendup of democracy in america with a french aristocrat and his entrepreneurial servant by richard eder globe correspondent april 25, 2010. By the twentieth century, it had become a classic work of political science, social science, and history. Tocqueville was a 25yearold french aristocrat with a new government in power, government that was favorably disposed to him. Contrary to the general assumption, his purpose was not a book about america but about this new kind of democracy, for the sake of france and of europe. Um, we say that, uh, tocquevilles book is the best book on democracy still and also the best book on america. Yet this is why the value of tocquevilles work is so permanent. It was a bold effort for one who had no special training in government, or in the study of. What struck him most was the countrys equality of conditions, its democracy.

He is best known for his works democracy in america appearing in two. He had read the story of the french revolution, much of which had been recently written in the blood of men and women of great distinction who were his progenitors. And the reason why they go together is that he found democracy in america. Arthur goldhammer has translated from the french more than 80 works in history, literature, art history, classical studies, philosophy, psychology, and. His book concerns itself not only with america but even more with americanismand americanism now has become worlddestiny.

With the emergence of democracies in europe and the new world at the beginning of the nineteenth century, political philosophers began to reevaluate the relationship between freedom and equality. Its title translates as on democracy in america, but english translations are usually simply entitled democracy in america. His contributions to political theory and sociology are of enduring significance. People regard him as an aristocrat who criticized democracy when, in reality, he was critical of many aristocratic pretensions and he saw the will of god in the coming. 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. Democracy in america had ordained and established throughout nearly the entire western hemisphere. French critic who provided insights on early america. Oct 04, 2019 richard, can you give us kind of a rundown of what this book is. But the heart of the book is tocquevilles travels in the united states and the. A major intellectual biography of toqueville that restores democracy in america to its essential context. If this idea was exposed to and accepted by the aristocracy then it would eventually be accepted by the lower classes, and hopefully bring about. Tocqueville argued the importance of the french revolution was to continue the process of.

The result was democracy in america, a monumental study of the strengths and weaknesses of the nations evolving politics. Democracy in america, volume i and ii optimized for kindle. Tocqueville looked to the flourishing democratic system in america as a possible. Published in 2 volumes, in 1835 and 1840, tocqueville records his findings after studying the thriving nation in his nine month exploratory journey. It was immediately popular in both europe and the united states, while also having a profound impact on the french population. With his magnum opus democracy in america, written after his visit to america in the 1830s, tocqueville entered the hall of immortals and this book is widely considered both by liberals and. In the book, tocqueville captures the american character of the jacksonian era. In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution. Apr 18, 2010 beaumont, on the other hand, made it the central analytical thread in his own book on the united states, marie or, slavery in the united states. Apr 21, 2020 the young french aristocrat first came to america on an official assignment to study the american penal system, but instead used this as a pretext to study american society. What europeans have said about america and what americans have said about europe is at times mere verbiage, and at other times highly prophetic.

Tocqueville looked to the flourishing democratic system in america as a possible model for postrevolutionary france, believing its egalitarian. Democracy in america richard heffners open mind archive. Richard john on tocquevilles democracy in america the. Tocquevilles democratic curiosity about democracy permeates his great book, which was published in two volumes, in 1835 and 1840. Democracy in america 1835, one of the most influential books of the 19th century.

Tocquevilles intentions for his book, democracy in america, were to convince the french aristocracy that a democracy would be a superior form of government to a monarchy for the people of france. Though not a sociologist by training or trade, tocqueville is recognized as one of the thinkers that inspired the. 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. Born a french aristocrat, he lost nearly his entire family in the reign of terror, and. He spent nine months crisscrossing the young country, traveling mostly by steamboat, but also sometimes on. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Beaumont, on the other hand, made it the central analytical thread in his own book on the united states, marie or, slavery in the united states. Democracy in america was published in two volumes, the first in 1835 and the other in 1840. Apr 25, 2010 peter carey sketches a sendup of democracy in america with a french aristocrat and his entrepreneurial servant by richard eder globe correspondent april 25, 2010. Democracy in america is a large book in two volumes published five. French aristocrat and count, he was a prefect that ran the local government, very successful, he was a royalist. Richard, can you give us kind of a rundown of what this book is. One point he made was how democracy is free and natural tocqueville 143.

His ninemonth sojourn led to the writing of democracy in america, universally regarded as one of the most influential books ever written. His insightful work has become one of the most influential political texts ever. He got a grant to come to the united states to study, of all things, prisons. A french aristocrat of the purest strain of blood and of the most honorable lineage, whose family influence was coveted by. The young french aristocrat first came to america on an official assignment to study the american penal system, but instead used this as a pretext to study american society. Though not a sociologist by training or trade, tocqueville is recognized as one of the thinkers that inspired the discipline due to his focus on social observation, his. It remains the most often quoted book about the united states, not only because. Tocqueville explained the positive and negatives about americas democracy. To understand why his works are important, it helps to.

In 1831 an ambitious and unusually perceptive twentyfiveyearold french aristocrat visited the united states. Apr 28, 2020 the young french aristocrat first came to america on an official assignment to study the american penal system, but instead used this as a pretext to study american society. 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. I have seen it cited even when there is no need to do so, because the aura of quoting tocqueville, the 19 th century french aristocrat is irresistible. Read volume one of the text translated by henry reeve, here.

His insightful work has become one of the most influential political texts ever written on america. In this book, he records his impressions of the customs and culture of the young nation. In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution that he believed. Ostensibly, he came to study our prison system for the new french king. This was tocquevilles extensive research on americas democracy in 1835.