Unlike most of the others, however, the book tocqueville wrote has proved over the years to be a lasting source of information and insight into both america and. The result was democracy in america, a monumental study of the strengths and weaknesses of the nations evolving politics. 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. He was a student of the consequences of the french revolution and had a very disdainful view of power for a diplomat in particular the elites ability to eventually exploit the loopholes and take power back from the people. Democracy in america and two essays on america penguin. This edition, based on the revised and corrected text of the 1961 french edition and meticulously edited by. He was a student of the consequences of the french revolution and had a very disdainful view of power for a diplomat in particular the elites ability to eventually exploit the loopholes and take power back. A new translation by arthur goldhammer library of america. 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. 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. Furthermore, tocquevilles democracy in america is often cited by presentday critics because so many of the observations in it seem extraordinarily suitable even more than one hundred and fifty years later. Its title translates as on democracy in america, but english translations are usually simply entitled democracy in america. Henry reeve is a publication of the pennsylvania state university.
Tocqueville embarked on his own political career in france but is best known for his contributions to history and political philosophy. I hence conceived the idea of the book which is now before the reader. In both he analyzed the improved living standards and social conditions. In the book, tocqueville captures the american character of the jacksonian era. What struck him most was the countrys equality of conditions, its democracy. Democracy in america has had the singular honor of being even. In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution that he believed had been occurring over the previous several hundred years. After barely escaping the guillotine, his parents escaped to england.
The project tocqueville undertook in writing democracy in america was a highly ambitious one. 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. The author documents his travels through america and contrasts his experiences with established aristocratic systems in western europe. 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. 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. It remains the most often quoted book about the united states, not only.
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. It remains the most often quoted book about the united states, not only because it has. However, while here and touring the country he began something far more interesting, a work known as democracy in 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. His 9month go to and subsequent studying and reflection resulted in democracy in america 1835forty, a landmark masterpiece of political remark and evaluation. During his trip to the united states, tocqueville was able to describe the awakening democracy. 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.
In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution. It remains the most often quoted book about the united states, not only because. This portable document file is furnished free and without any charge of any kind. Bred to the law, he exhibited an early predilection for philosophy and political economy, and at twentytwo was appointed judgeauditor at the tribunal of versailles. Dec 17, 2015 the book every new american citizen and every old one, too should read to mark my first year of u. He was active in law and politics, serving for a time as foreign minister, and wrote lancien reacutegime, a social and political study of prerevolutionary france. 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.
These are classics of literary history, reissued and made available to a wide audience. In the eleven years that separated the declaration of the independence of the united states from the completion of that act in the ordination of our written constitution, the great minds of america were bent upon the study of the principles of government that were essential to the preservation of the liberties which had been won at great cost. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Democracy in america school of english and american. Published in 2 volumes, in 1835 and 1840, tocqueville records his findings after studying the thriving. This book has been touted as one of the first and most complete works on sociology and political. This enduring classic explores the civil institutions and. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library, yale university.
Appears in 90 books from 18402007 page 123 the great advantage of the americans is, that they have arrived at a state of democracy without having to. The book every new american citizen and every old one, too. Corruption and vices of the rulers in a democracy and consequent effects. Tocqueville was active in french politics, first under the july monarchy 18301848 and then during the second republic 18491851 which succeeded the february 1848 revolution. 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. He is best known for his works democracy in america appearing in two volumes, 1835 and 1840 and the old regime and the revolution. 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 worked. Democracy in america 18351840 is arguably the most perceptive and influential book ever written about american politics and society.
His approach is totally original compar to a normative philosophy that prevailed in classics montesquieu, rousseau and the greeks, tocqueville rather use a descriptive and clinical approach. Democracy in america harper perennial modern classics. 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. He wrote democracy in america after visiting the united states during which he observed various elements of the prison system. Eduardo nolla, translated from the french by james t. It is evident to all alike that a great democratic revolution is going on amongst us. 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. Any person using this document file, for any purpose, and in any way does so at his or her own risk. Democracy in america was published after tocquevilles travels in the united states and is today considered an early work of sociology and political science.