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A new democracy was established in America with certain unique characteristics in its structure and establishment. America's tyranny never came. America's duration of holding to its original form of government, since the time of the Constitution, evolved from a near insignificant point in human history, to an era power not in a man, but rather in free men, every one in America for over 200 years. The question of every great historian then is this, "How has America's democracy thrived when all others previous to it has failed?" 1 A brilliant young historian from France devoted a major portion of his life to answer this world changing mystery. Alexis de Tocqueville revealed to Europe, which characteristics instilled in American democracy must be modeled in order to construct a proper institution of government in any nation. He did this in his work, Democracy in America.
Alexis de Tocqueville was born in Paris on July 29, 1805. Tocqueville's father was a royalist prefect from Normandy who supported the Boston monarchy, his great-grandfather was a liberal aristocrat killed in the French Revolution, and his mother was a devout Roman Catholic who strongly advocated a return on the Old Regime. In 1835, the first part of Democracy in America was published. A highly positive and optimistic account of American government and society, the book was very well received throughout Europe. "In 1840 the second part of Democracy in America was published. This volume was substantially more pessimistic than the first, warning of the dangers despotism and governmental centralization, and applying his ideas and criticisms more directly to France. As a result, it was not received as well as the first part, except in England where it was acclaimed highly. 2 Tocqueville believes that history progresses with the inevitable growth of equality of conditions, and he sees America as the furthest progression of this growth.
The extraordinary level of equality can be both a help and a hindrance to freedom. "On the one hand, one cannot have complete freedom. "As social conditions become more equal, the number increases who, although they are neither rich enough nor powerful enough to exercise any great influence over their fellow-creatures, have nevertheless acquired or retained sufficient education and fortune to satisfy their own wants. " 1 "Yet at the same time, Tocqueville recognizes than in almost every situation, freedom is endangered by an overly ardent passion for equality. " 3 "This, independently of equality itself, tends powerfully to divide men, to lead them to mistrust the judgment of others, and to seek the light of truth nowhere but in their own understandings. " 1 Tocqueville inaccurately stated the out come of a possible civil war. "As long as it only indirectly assailed by the interpretation of its laws, and as long as its substances is not seriously altered, a change of opinion, an internal crisis, or a war, may restore all the vigor which it requires. So far is the Federal Government from acquiring strength, and from threatening the sovereignty of the States, as it grows older, that I maintain it to be growing weaker and weaker, and that the sovereignty of the Union alone is in danger. Tocqueville emphasizes that one of the most important problems in American democracy, or any other democracy, is that of individualism. He compares and contrasts egotism from individualism. However, individualism may cause one to sever himself with the world, which can create an entrance for the entry of tyranny and the end of democracy in America. Egotism centers one on himself.
Individualism can very well do the same if it is corrupted by egotism. "Individualism is a novel expression, to which a novel idea has given birth. Our fathers were only acquainted with egotism. Egotism is a passionate and exaggerated love of self, which leads a man to connect everything with his own person, and to prefer himself to everything in the world. Individualism is a mature and calm feeling, which disposes each member of the community to sever himself from the mass of his fellow-creatures; and to draw apart with his family and his friends; so that he has thus formed a little circle of his own, he willingly leaves society at large to itself. Egotism originates in blind instinct: individualism proceeds from erroneous judgment more than from depraved feelings; it originates as much in the deficiencies of the mind as in the perversity of the heart.
Egotism blights the germ of all virtue; individualism, at first, only saps the virtues of public life; but, in the long run, it attacks and destroys all others, and is at length absorbed in down right egotism. Egotism is a vice as old as the world, which does not belong to one form of society more than to another: individualism is of democratic origin, and it threatens to spread in the same ratio as the as the equality of conditions. " 1 Alexis de Tocqueville points out the unique feature of patriotism one has for his own country. He states that this feeling is made up of instinctive passions that can not ultimately save a nation. He soundly states that in the times of peace those with patriotism in their hearts will slowly but surely lose them if not continuously rekindled. "But like all instinctive passions, this kind of patriotism is more apt to prompt transient exertion than to supply the motives of continuous endeavor. It may save the State in critical circumstances, but it will not infrequently allow the nation decline in the midst of peace. Whilst the manners of a people are simple and its faith unshaken, whilst society is steadily based upon traditional institutions whose legitimacy has never been contested, this instinctive patriotism is wont to endure. " 1 When the passion of a nation has left, they become complacent to mediocrity and care little about neither nation nor the direction it is pursuing.
Unfortunately, it is precisely this mentality, which drives a democracy to plummet into loss of respect for individual thoughts, individual freedoms, and individual lives. This leaves the gate to tyranny wide open, as we have seen continuously in the past. Alexis de Tocqueville has made an observation that equality and liberty go hand in hand. The American people all had equal rights to succeed in life. They were all given the opportunity to decide who will lead them. Without equality there would be no true liberty.
The love of freedom in a man's heart is derived from equality, and in spite of religious or political differences between each individual in America, it cannot be questioned neither in the States or in Europe that each American values his liberties ever so dearly. Tocqueville witnessed the democracies in both France and America, and he could clearly see the difference in their mindset. Americans had an unbridled passion for liberty where France did not. What was the difference between the two democracies?
It was none other than the spirit of equality inside each American citizen. "I have visited the two nations in which the system of provincial liberty has been most perfectly established, and I have listened to the opinions of different parties in those countries. In America I met with men who secretly aspired to destroy the democratic institutions of the Union; in England I found others who attacked the aristocracy openly, but I know of no one who does not regard provincial independence as a great benefit. In both countries I have heard a thousand different causes assigned for the evils of the State, but the local system was never mentioned amongst them. I have heard citizens attribute the power and prosperity of their country to a multitude of reasons, but they all placed the advantages of the local institutions in the foremost rank. Am I to suppose that when men who are naturally so divided on religious opinions and on political theories agree on one point (and that one of which they have daily experience), they are all in error? The only nations which deny the utility of provincial liberties are those which have the fewest of them; in other words, those who are unacquainted with the institution are the only persons who pass a censure upon it. " 1.
One of Tocqueville's greatest concerns toward America was the problem between the races of the Europeans, the Native Americans, and the African Americans. He presumed that the Native Americans would be eliminated. "The Indians will perish in the same isolated condition in which they had lived. " 1 He also concluded that the nation must abolish slavery. He knew this would be difficult, yet he dreaded the impending issue of racism. "Whatever may be the efforts of the Americans of the South to maintain slavery, they will not always succeed. Slavery, which is now confined to a single tract of the civilized earth, which is attacked by Christianity as unjust, and by political economy as prejudicial; and which is now contrasted with democratic liberties and the information of our age, cannot survive. By the choice of the master, or by the will of the slave, it will cease; and in either case great calamities may be expected to ensue. If liberty be refused to the Negroes of the South, they will in the end seize it for themselves by force; if it be given, they will abuse it ere long. " 1 In our modern world today, we find that many of Tocqueville's observations were accurate.
In today's society, many similar issues raise debate in the hearts and minds of the American people. Unfortunately, many Americans have lost their vigor of patriotism. Many, however, have instilled new patriotism in the time of this present crisis, and will give themselves over so easily to complacency. The American people are strong and will endure. Unfortunately, when the times pass, there will be without reason to care for the nation's political circumstances. Individualism has taken root in our nation, and if it were not for equality, egotism would curse the land with those who take advantage of their given powers.
We can see today how the proud and selfish demand special rights and privileges and receiving them more and more often. Fortunately, those with a current passion for liberty and equality are speaking out against Egotism. Alexis de Tocqueville had noticed the democracy in two nations. He saw one succeed, and another fail.
But the interesting and somewhat haunting fact still remains. The failure of America could very possibly begin. The equal opportunity for everyone American citizen to do what was and still is the basic foundation of the success of the democracy in America. If we ignore these rights, we will fall prey to the uncertain evils that wait for our destruction. Many because of the stand it takes to secure freedom for all hate America. Not all attacks to are made by men with guns and planes.
The most destructive enemies are those that bring false ideas of complacency and doubt in the hearts and the minds of the American people. If we would read, study, and learn from people like Alexis de Tocqueville and our founding fathers, we would be ready to fight those false ideas and instill a possible hope to the generations to come.
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Research essay sample on Alexis De Tocqueville Democracy In America
