SOAN 2112 Chapter : de Tocqueville
26 Feb 2012
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Alexis de tocqueville (1805-1859) y convinced of the inevitable advance of democracy, but thought it would lead to the destruction of aristocratic values and instutions. The american revolution was the sign that democracy could work without despotic tendency. arrived in new york in 1831 when the antithesis (aristocracy-democracy) was a public issue rule by the rich property owners (aristocrats) vs. rule by the people. what he desired in france, he saw in us: order, government based on separation and balance of powers, true freedom. America had her democratic revolution but avoided france s fate (anarchy, despotism). Thought of america as a classless society with greater equality becoming the rule. america was unique: never had an old regime, no large metropolitan areas. democracy brings certain losses to a minority, but large gains for the majority. Praised america for local autonomy and decentralized government , criticized france s highly centralized state bureaucracy.
