There are vast differences between Puritanical individualism and contemporary individualism. The Puritan’s habit of being independent revolved around religion and each persons religious choice. They thought that their faith and the principles of God was what proved the worth of each individual. They were primarily self-reliant through their determined faith. On the other hand, contemporary individualism is more developed and unique. Individualism today includes supporting yourself financially, working and making money so you are able to rely on yourself. Individualism in present time also includes individual rights, allowing someone to be dependent on their own personal freedom. We also see individualism today with retirement, when one is responsible for their own retirement and does not depend on the government to help (social security), it exemplifies individualism. Why has the ideology of that emphasizes the importance of an individual changed so drastically? Why have we steered away from full reliance on religious choice? How will we be able to depend on ourselves in the future?
Author: Brian Brown
Tocqueville was able to make very strong and intelligent predictions especially in his setting of pre-civil war, but they were not all correct. One of the predictions that he makes is how the racial tension and the differences in people of society will impact the Union. Slavery is like a huge cut you would get maybe from something like a shark attack and it can be healed (abolished) but there will always be a scar. There will always be a mark in society from slavery. Tocqueville discusses the negative impact slavery has on the nation, as in the south, Kentucky, for example, “society seems to be asleep”. While in the north the industry is booming. He also made the prediction that the U.S. will be a supreme power and he knows the U.S “must inevitably become one of the greatest nations in the world.” He understands that the U.S is doing things in “constant motion and every change seems an improvement.” Tocqueville makes quite smart predictions about the future of the United States even pre-civil war before the nation changes drastically.
Tocqueville describes the story of the Anglo-American settlers who were all from England where they dealt with different factions for a long period of time. During the European religious conflicts, the English were looking for a new life in America. They brought with them the idea of freedom and the idea of sovereignty. He differentiates the settlers in the north from the south, saying that the southern was settling for wealth and slavery. The northern settlers just wanted to worship God freely. The new English colonies were driven by by notes from the Bible like “orderly conduct and good morals”. The Anglo-Americans had birthed civil freedom and started the beauty of the present American Government.
Tocqueville opens up the first chapter by illuminating the environment in the continent, breaking it up into two regions: the north and the south. He describes each region profoundly, allowing the reader to make visualizations of the territory. In the north, there are great lakes and rivers. In the south, there are two rows of mountains the Allegheny and the Rockies. And, in between them there is the beautiful Mississippi River. He talks about the river in depth, explaining its importance literally and figuratively. Tocqueville explains how the river distributes good and evil– how the farther you get from the landmark the worse the vegetation and the soil is. He concludes by labeling it as the most sufficient and wonderful setting created by God for mankind. He explains the limited and minimal vegetation and environment east of the river, emphasizing the worth of the west.
Tocqueville begins to describe the natives of the land and describes them as ignorant of riches and independent. They are able to manage their emotions– they are calm in peace and can be brutal during battle.
Tocqueville concludes by mentioning that the “Indians occupied [it] without possessing it”. He says that they just roamed it but never made it there own which arguably shows Tocqueville’s prejudice against them. Does Tocqueville think they don’t have the ability to make the land their own? What does it say about his perspective?
From Tocqueville’s Chapter VIII, he highlights the fact that humans distinguish themselves from brutes because of their capability of indefinitely improving. He argues that one who is under an aristocracy does not find trouble improving, but indefinitely improving. The aristocracy may act as an obstacle for the amount of ameliorating that is desired, but with proper motivation the boundary that the aristocracy creates can be destroyed. Brutes are to mankind as survival is to creating; The limits on both are indefinite to the core, but there can be factors that change the perspective on the ‘limits’. The perception of indefinite perfectibility of man can be altered because of the other societal structures and norms but not changed forever.