SOCB42H3 Chapter Notes -Universal Suffrage, Abundant Number, Alexis De Tocqueville
Document Summary
Democracy as a way of life (author"s agenda) Equality of conditions had an enormous influence on the course of society; it gives a certain direction to public spirits, a certain turns to the laws, new maxims to those who govern, and particular habits to the governed. In france, right of command passes from generation to generation by inheritance. There was only on origin of power landed property. Political power of the clergy comes to be founded and soon spreads. The clergy opens its ranks to all; equality penetrates through the church to the heart of the government. The crusades and the wars with the english decimate the nobles and divide their lands; the institution of townships introduces democratic freedom into the heart of the feudal monarchy; the discovery of firearms equalizes the battlefield, etc. America presents a thousand new routes for fortune and delivers wealth and power to the obscure adventurer.
