Alexis de Tocquevilles Democracy in America :: American America History

Alexis de Tocquevilles Democracy in AmericaAlexis de Tocquevilles visit to the United States in the early part of the nineteenth century prompted his work Democracy in America, in which he express the ability to make majority rule work. Throughout his travels Tocqueville noted that private absorb and personal gain motivated the actions of most Americans, which in turn civilised a strong sense of identity. Tocqueville believed that this individualism would briefly sap the sexual morality of public life (395) and create a one-man rule of selfishness. This growth of despotism would be created by citizens becoming too individualistic, and therefore not bothering to satisfy their civic duties or exercise their freedom. Tocqueville feared that the political order of America would soon become aimed at the satisfaction of individual needs, rather than the strikinger inviolable of society. Alexis de Tocqueville viewed affaire in public affairs, the growth of associations and newspape rs, the principle of self-interest in respectable order understood, and religion as the only means by which American democracy could combat the effects of individualism. Given that despots have either interest in keeping wad isolated, the individualism resulting from equality makes despotism a great danger to equality. Despotism... sees in the separation among men the surest guarantee of its continuance, and it usually makes every effort to keep them separate (399). Exercising freedom through participation in public affairs is therefore extremely vital because it gives good deal a personal interest in thinking about others in society. Local self-governments are important because they draw people together, and it is therefore more likely that they will exercise their liberty. Tocqueville states that as soon as a man begins to treat of public affairs in public, he begins to embrace that he is not so independent of his fellow men as he had first imagined, and that in order to obt ain their support he must often lend them his cooperation (400). When people act together they a great deal form dependencies on one another, especially when they are working for the good of the entire community. Another means by which Tocqueville believes it is possible to contest individualism is to form associations and write newspapers. He believes that like local governments, associations help people to realize their dependence on their fellow citizens and take interest in public affairs. It is crucial to have institutions and civic duties which force people to heart beyond their own interests and think about the problems of the community.