Democracy in america book by alexis de tocqueville

What struck him most was the countrys equality of conditions, its democracy. Eduardo nolla, translated from the french by james t. This special edition contains the entire two volumes of democracy in america, based on the. Democracy in america and two essays on america by alexis. He was best known for his works democracy in america appearing in two volumes, 1835 and 1840 and the old regime and the revolution 1856. Democracy in america harper perennial modern classics. He is best known for his works democracy in america appearing in two volumes, 1835 and 1840 and the old regime and the revolution.

Commissioned by the french government, democracy in america is the result of tocqueville s 1832 tour of the united states to examine the american penal system. Democracy in america school of english and american. The result was democracy in america, a monumental study of the strengths and weaknesses of the nations evolving politics. Democracy in america chapter summaries course hero.

Beinecke rare book and manuscript library, yale university. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The surprisingly large number of readers who chuckled over toby youngs how to lose friends. I hence conceived the idea of the book which is now before the reader. Henry reeve, the pennsylvania state university, electronic classics series, jim manis, faculty editor, hazleton, pa 182011291 is a portable document file produced as part of an ongoing student publication. This edition, based on the revised and corrected text of the 1961 french edition and meticulously edited by. His insightful work has become one of the most influential political texts ever written on america.

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. He was a magistrate and completely assessed the whole system including the political affects of the sdministration and the legal system, comparing it with what was presently there in france and england. Having seen the failed attempts at democratic government in his native france, he wanted to study a stable and prosperous democracy to gain insights into how it worked. Find summaries for every chapter, including a democracy in america chapter summary chart to help you understand the book. The project tocqueville undertook in writing democracy in america was a highly ambitious one. Democracy in america has had the singular honor of being even. He was a magistrate and completely assessed the whole system including the political affects of the sdministration and the legal system, comparing it. Democracy in america classic analysis of americas unique political character, quoted heavily by politicians and perennially popping up on history professors reading lists. Having seen the failed attempts at a democratic government in his native france, tocqueville set out to study a stable and prosperous democracy in order to gain insight into how it work. This enduring classic explores the civil institutions and. The author documents his travels through america and contrasts his experiences with established aristocratic systems in western europe. After barely escaping the guillotine, his parents escaped to england. 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. Tocquevilles monumental book is as relevant today as when it was first published in the midnineteenth century, and it remains the most comprehensive, penetrating, and astute picture of american life, politics, and morals ever written whether by an american or, as in this case, a foreign visitor.

Commissioned by the french government, democracy in america is the result of tocquevilles 1832 tour of the united states to examine the american penal system. A new translation by arthur goldhammer library of america. It remains the most often quoted book about the united states, not only because. Its title translates as on democracy in america, but english translations are usually simply entitled democracy in america. It remains the most often quoted book about the united states, not only. In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution that he believed had been occurring over the previous several hundred years. In both he analyzed the improved living standards and social conditions. While historians have viewed democracy as a rich source about the age of andrew jackson, tocqueville was. It is evident to all alike that a great democratic revolution is going on amongst us.

He wrote democracy in america after visiting the united states during which he observed various elements of the prison system. About democracy in america and two essays on america. From america s call for a free press to its embrace of the capitalist system, democracy in america first published in 1835enlightens, entertains, and endures as a brilliant study of our national government and character. In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution. He continued on to serve in the french parliament and also wrote many works, including the old regime and the revolution. Boorstin was the author of the americans, a trilogy the colonial. From americas call for a free press to its embrace of the capitalist system, democracy in america first published in 1835enlightens, entertains, and endures as a. His extraordinary analysis of the entire american political system appeared as two separate works, complete in themselves, published in english translation in 1835 and 1840. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. While historians have viewed democracy as a rich source about the age of andrew jackson, tocqueville was more of a political thinker than a historian.