Category: Short Essays and Responses

The statement that many things have changed in America since Tocqueville’s writings is factual, however, the principles that he presented in the 1830s are very applicable to the democracy that stands today. Although it was written nearly two hundred years ago, due to Tocqueville’s attempt at taking a nonpartisan approach and his comprehensive analysis makes his writings applicable and gives insight to the problems that plague America in the modern day.

In the mid-19^th century, when Tocqueville wrote his book, slavery was a major topic in political discussion. He witnessed the plight of African American’s at the time and stated that, “The Negro makes a thousand fruitless efforts to insinuate himself among men who repulse him…” This in my mind can be likened to the recent ideals behind gay pride. For many years people who were of sexual orientations different than what was “normal” by society, were seen as unnatural and in turn, lead to oppression. This oppression would lead to people suppressing their identity and can be likened to the African American’s back then. They would abandon their culture and identity in the hopes that adopting the white man’s culture would lead to acceptance. I believe that there are many more instances in which groups who are oppressed in America today adopt the culture in the hopes that they will feel more accepted but just like those of times past, it achieves next to nothing. A prime example of such is Muslims, through the war on terror and the fact that some groups have a preconceived notion that practicing Islam makes you more likely to be a terrorist is something that America can use Tocqueville’s writings to learn from. What makes America unique is the different backgrounds and cultures that fill it. Learning about other people and their cultures is something that should define America, not inhibit it.

                Although Tocqueville’s French aristocratic background does lead to some bias regarding American democracy, his attempt to be nonpartisan throughout the chapters we have read comes well before his time.  During the chapter on the dangers that face the United States, however he talks about how, “The prosperity of the United States is the source of their most serious dangers…” This is applicable to the current state of the country. The overwhelming sense of pride and patriotism that some American’s display, although it is of good intentions, can lead to conflict.

This statement is correct and that many things have changed since Tocqueville analyzed America 150 years ago. Tocqueville’s analysis does not account for major changes in American society that have shaped it as it is today. His analysis of the situation at the time is comprehensive and takes many factors into account. It provides insight into the problems of America and how they might resolve and or continue to cause problems. 
    One way in which Tocqueville’s analysis differs from the present state of affairs in America is the integration of Native Americans in todays society. In the United States today Native-Americans have adopted the common American culture. They use much of the same day to day technology and services as the rest of American Society. In the time Tocqueville wrote, many Native American tribes inhabited the interior of the American Continent. It was Tocqueville’s opinion that Europeans were not able to civilize these tribes. The quote “Europeans have not been able to change the character of the Indians; and though they have had power to destroy, they have never been able to subdue and civilize them,” shows that Tocqueville is doubtful that the Native Americans will become civilized. He proposed that instead of trying to adopt a agrarian lifestyle the Native Americans would be wiped out or dispersed. He uses examples of the southern states in the Union evicting tribes off of their lands to show that the Americans treat the Native tribes in the same way the Europeans did. Tocqueville was correct in his prediction of Native American decimation. His assessment of the situation provided an accurate description of the Native American’s problems at the time. His readings do not offer much insight on modern Native American culture. They instead act as a insight into European opinions about the Native Americans in the mid 19^thcentury. 

  At the time Tocqueville wrote his book, there was lots of political discussion over Slavery. Tocqueville talks much about the political divide between the states that support slavery and those that don’t. He believed that slavery would not last forever in American society. The divide between North and South was unsustainable and would lead to increased political division.  His quote “Slavery, now confined to a single tract of the civilized earth, attacked by Christianity as unjust and by political economy as prejudicial, and now contrasted with democratic liberty and the intelligence of our age, cannot survive.” shows Tocqueville’s critical view on the ethics of slavery. Much of what he says is no longer applicable to our modern-day society because slavery has been abolished for one hundred and fifty years. The abolishment of slavery has had profound effects on society since Tocqueville’s time. In the United States today millions of African Americans vote in elections, own property and pay taxes. In Tocqueville’s day African Americans had no rights. In the early 19^thcentury, much of the population of the Americas was prevented from voting. Today all adults are legally allowed to participate in government. These changes have drastically changed the course of our society and make Tocqueville’s analysis less applicable.  

Tocqueville’s depiction of American life and culture during his time has multiple aspects that share similarities with modern American life, however, the majority of the depictions have changed too heavily since the work was done to dictate it as currently relevant. This is due to the vast differences to the puritan way of life and the southern plantation system both socially and economically. Tocqueville’s analysis of both economic mobility as well as the relevance of religious influence in political structure has changed dramatically since the time of his visit.
The Puritan people lived a significantly different life than the modern American people do today. The vastly advanced structure of rights and liberties that the United States Constitution carries in the Bill of Rights is lacking in the political structure of Puritan society. Rather than adopt a more hands-off approach with this style of democracy the puritans used it to create a strict authoritarian style of governance which punishes countless crimes with death. As Tocqueville stated, “It must not be forgotten that these fantastic and oppressive laws were not imposed by authority, but that they were freely voted by all the persons interested in them”. In addition to this severe punishment, there was no separation of church and state in this society. The Puritan people heavily integrate their religious beliefs directly into their system of governance, it was even stated that “in America, religion is the road to knowledge, and the observance of the divine laws leads man to civil freedom” (Tocqueville). Every successful puritan in this depiction is viewed as one who heavily values and respects the Puritan religious code. Furthermore, in contrast to modern American society, Tocqueville had stated: “in America, it is the poor who make the law, and they usually reserve the greatest advantages of society to themselves”. This statement could not be further from the truth in 2019. Political giants dominate the government and financial based donations have much more pull then individual votes. Society has simply changed and not only socially.
Tocqueville has some rather noteworthy opinions and observations of the financial intricacies and patterns of the southern colonies of America. Most simply was the concept of financial movement where it appeared to him that there was a significantly large population of citizens with new money, it seemed as “In America, most of the rich men were formerly poor” (Tocqueville). Unfortunately, enough time has passed where large estates have gradually been built up and there is some serious income inequality in America that transcends generations and has heavily impacted the opportunities offered to citizens. This once again contrasts to Tocqueville’s view of American financial realities where “wealth circulates with inconceivable rapidity, and experience shows that it is rare to find two succeeding generations in the full enjoyment of it”. While America still has greater economic mobility than many other nations it is nowhere near the observation Tocqueville made all those years ago.
The American way of life has drastically altered itself through the power of time and while in many cases this is for its benefit, this is not always the case. Tocqueville’s view is one that should never be ceased to be studied however it should always be with a historical context and an understanding of the modern political world.