StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Democracy in America 1835, 1840 - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Alexis de Tocqueville saw in 19th Century American society the ideal which he wanted for his fatherland, France. Central to the ideal society which he saw in America was the crucial role of equality in American life. His fascination for and study of American society gave birth to the book Democracy in America.1…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER91.1% of users find it useful
Democracy in America 1835, 1840
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Democracy in America 1835, 1840"

Central to the ideal society which he saw in America was the crucial role of equality in American life. His fascination for and study of American society gave birth to the book Democracy in America.1Ida B. Wells revealed the myopia of American society and showed an America hidden in the shadows.22. Equality in American Politics and American LifeUprooted from England, the American settlers built a new democratic society with more equal terms and ranks afforded to every citizen, leaving behind the walls of the aristocracy and throwing off the yoke of the motherland.

This pioneering spirit was set in contrast with those of the Native American Indians gave birth to a distinct social condition and resulted in the legislative pursuit of utopian objectives by democratic means. This political set-up was reinforced by religion and the evangelical climate of the time.Different from European monarchies or oligarchies, the American system was democratized and governed by the majority which prefers the interests of the many vires--vis that of the few. Government by the majority is made possible through the mechanism of the Constitution, separation of powers of branches of government, elections, and the government of laws and not of men.3. Equality in Social Class, Race and GenderSocial Class.

'[T]he fortunes of men [that] are equal in America'.3 Wealth and education are within reach of anybody. Absent the rigid laws of English aristocracy and transmission, there is no class that transmits intellect or even superior status with inherited property and in its stead is the healthy growth of democracy. This is true only for the white race in society.Race. Because the pioneers came to a vast land that required manpower to cultivate, the institution of slavery of blacks was part of the social system.

Tocqueville foresaw the impact of the increasing black population which threatens the whites.4 Slavery created an under-class and anomaly to the Constitutional ideal of all men are created equal. Tocqueville himself support slavery.Gender. Tocqueville saw that the foundation of freedom and a free community or society is morality and that moral training is the result of the participation of women in nation-building, not by competing with men but by enthusiastically taking on the domestic task of home-building, without which any society would just be a hollow shell.

He saw in the American women the indicia of emancipation and discernment brought about by knowing their unique place and individual role in the natural scheme of things and not by competing with the men or becoming similar to them. American women are not placed on pedestals but work in their own chosen offices in society hand in hand with the men.4. A Red Record Challenge to Racist Equality'[D]emocracy destroys or modifies the different inequalities that originate in society'5 wrote Tocqueville.

He was talking about a democracy that lives in the hearts of the people but democracy falls short when the very people are stricken with myopia, discrimination, and hatred. He was correct about the tyranny of the majority and the mob. In fact, in footnote 4 or of Chapter XV he told the story of the equal rights of suffrage given to the blacks and with the choice of their not so exercising the right. The ideal of equality developed further and resulted in the freeing of the slaves during the American Revolution.

The social conscience developed slower as would be seen from the book A Red Record.Ida Wells-Barnett wrote about the death and pain brought about by an aversion to skin color. She complained that the American Revolution may have freed the black man from slavery but the government has failed to protect them from racism, lynching, torture, and rape. She collated the various crimes committed to the black people chronicled the meager efforts to criminalize lynching and racism.When Miss Wells said that the white man's democracy is on trial, she is reiterating the insight of Tocqueville on the weakness of the rule of the majority.

She illustrated with hard facts the correlative rule of the mob which, unchecked, would destroy the efforts of the founding fathers of American Democracy.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Democracy in America 1835, 1840 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words, n.d.)
Democracy in America 1835, 1840 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words. https://studentshare.org/history/1524156-topic-alexis-de-tocqueville-democracy-in-america-1835-1840
(Democracy in America 1835, 1840 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
Democracy in America 1835, 1840 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words. https://studentshare.org/history/1524156-topic-alexis-de-tocqueville-democracy-in-america-1835-1840.
“Democracy in America 1835, 1840 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”. https://studentshare.org/history/1524156-topic-alexis-de-tocqueville-democracy-in-america-1835-1840.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Democracy in America 1835, 1840

Development of the American attitude towards the Federal Government between 1783 and 1865

1850'S marked the abolitionism aimed at ending slavery in america.... Therefore, the establishment of several political parties during the seventeenth century marked and influenced the development of america.... Thus, the opinion that america was to depend on was to come from the majority and not the small group of property owners (DBQ #8, Doc.... Therefore, establishment of the new broad-based voting public is an event that highly influenced the development of america....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Freedom of speech and expression

Alexis de Tocqueville, the philosopher, in "democracy in america"3 explained that when a person expresses an opinion which may seem unpopular, he may be subjected to the rejection of his community.... Free speech and expression is a notion that has always raised debate.... Historically many authors have given their position on the issue....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Is American Government corrupt in its purchase of land

democracy in america, vol.... 1835.... Confederate States of america: A Declaration of the Causes which Impel the State of Texas to Secede from the Federal Union.... United States Expansionism and British North america, 1775-1871.... The legacy of Andrew Jackson: essays on democracy, Indian removal, and slavery.... The legacy of Andrew Jackson: essays on democracy, Indian removal, and slavery....
40 Pages (10000 words) Essay

Reasons and Main Regions of American Expansion

In the period between 1820 and 1840, there was a westward movement of the people, in the US, which had a profound effect on agriculture, education,... The chronological order of the States gained by the whites is provided in the sequel.... In 1784, Virginia State was obtained by the settlers; thereafter, Massachusetts was ceded in 1785....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Multiple Pieces of Legislation Led, which that would Ultimately Lead to the Civil War

Historians explicating the roots of the US civil war concentrate on the reasons the seven American states confirmed their utter secession from the USA and conjoined together to create the confederacy.... Notably, the key reason to the rise of the civil warfare is slavery, which has… As regards the slavery issue, it intensified because of the southern anger towards the northern anti-slavery efforts to terminate the entry of slavery into the western area Moreover, the southern slave masters established that such a characteristic restraint of the current slavery would magnanimously breach the principle of state rights....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

Role of Annexing Texas and Southwest Territories

Manifest Destiny was the emotional upsurge within the Americans to expand their territorial land during the decades of 1840's and 1850's as they believed that by decree they had to extend their reign over the entire continent including the South American region.... Manifest Destiny was the emotional upsurge within the Americans to expand their territorial land during the decades of 1840's and 1850's as they believed that by decree they had to extend their reign over the entire continent including the South American region....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Abraham Lincoln

He led america through her Greatest, military, moral and constitutional crisis.... He had a vision of expanding america and making it a home for every person regardless of the skin color.... Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of United States and he served from March 1861 to April 1865 when he got assassinated....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Term Project - Chapter 14 Summary

By 1840, the American population had extended across the Alleghenies (Kennedy and Cohen 288).... Many Irish, who were mostly Roman-Catholic, moved to america in 1840s following a significant... This chapter (chapter 14) “Forging the National Economy 1790-1860” basically explores the industrial revolution of the American economy from the year 1790-1860....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us