Category: Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

In chapter 3 of Democracy in America, Tocqueville discusses the social construct of Anglo-Americans, and more specifically compares and contrasts them between themselves (New England versus the south) and between them and the Europeans. He starts off by explaining how in New England the Anglo-Americans were very democratic, while in the south they formed a new kind of aristocracy through slavery, which differed greatly from the aristocracy in Europe. In my opinion, Tocqueville used a quite unique approach of differing the north, specifically New England, from the south by using the Hudson River as a geographical marker. As someone who grew up on the Hudson, I have never thought of it as a midway point between the two geographic regions, but from a historical standpoint I can see where Tocqueville is coming from especially with the significance that the Hudson River has provided in the past. 

Tocqueville proceeds to meticulously explain the issues of inheritance, especially the downside of passing down land to each child after death rather than just following the standard of primogeniture. Another uniquely American trait he finds is that although almost everyone gets an education, people don’t finish out their education in a more specialized way, which could not be said to be true today. However, though in the present day Americans do go onto a specialized education (i.e. college), Europeans tend to concentrate their studies earlier on in life, such as in high school. 

The end of this chapter brings the notion of equality back into sight. Tocqueville seems to favor a social hierarchy, but he does express that although Anglo-Americans mostly live equally, they seem to make it work in a different way with a political system unlike his own. 

Tocqueville focuses his main topic on the development and history of America. He begins his conversation by comparing the growth of America, similar to the growth of humans. Tocqueville establishes that America has been one of the only countries that has been clearly observed from the beginning. Tocqueville states, “America is the only country in which it has been possible to witness the natural and tranquil growth of society.” America has been established from others such as French, English, the Spaniards, and all Europeans. With these citizens coming from other countries they each brought their views, opinions, and statuses. Most immigrants came to the coast of New England, therefore began to establish political views and classes. America was supposed to be land that was freed from classes and politics, but the English government views became relevant as America grew. Bringing these ideas, classes and riches, from England created a fatal delusion and greater impoverish. When thinking about these laws, they were not created by a government however by the persons interested in them. They grew from the customs of the community and the views from their government before. The customs that have been influenced when America first began has grown into the same views America has today. In the end, Tocqueville focuses this chapter on the growth of views and customs of America, how American politics began. He mentions that one can view America’s growth and views from the beginning, which today these views are continued. “Fantastic and oppressive” laws are enforced by those who are interested in them. Classes and wealth plays a key part in one’s everyday life. Therefore being able to read and see how America has developed, my question is “Why do American citizens have the same views and customs as they did when this country first began? Haven’t they realized that the people who live in America have changed their views and ways of life?”

Tocqueville illustrates in chapter two, “Origin of the Anglo-Americans, and the Importance of this Origin in Relation to their Future Condition,” the way in which the origins of the United States, more specifically, New England, allows us to understand and examine the production of equality and freedom in government and social conditions. He finds it necessary to see the roots and foundation of both equality and freedom in society to be able to accurately analyze their growth and overarching meaning. The United States is the only country in which you are able to so closely examine the society’s natural growth and see the distinguishable influence which permitted the origin of future conditions. He clarifies the difference between the development of the south versus the North. The south predominantly formed as the people seeked riches, such as gold and silver in Virginia, and the later artisans and agriculturist alongside the development of slavery there, which brought about weak morals to the future character and laws of the future south. In contrast, New Englanders predominantly came due to their intellectual yearning, promoting “elements of order and morality.” Northerners were, therefore, more intellectual and able to create more progressive laws and social values which were able to construct the later values of freedom in law and society. 

Additionally, Tocqueville illuminates the impact of religious freedom on the makeup of morals and government in the United States. Many sectarians came to America as a result of the yearning for a lack of combination of government and religion, resulting in a majority of middle-class citizens that came. This desire arose a yearning for religious freedom in the new world, and Tocqueville emphasizes how people searched for “ heaven in the world beyond, and well-being and liberty in this one.” People sacrificed everything for this desired notion, which further shaped the great value of freedom.