Tony Rodriguez September 7, 2014
Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy in America
This document was written by Alexis de Tocqueville, who was a French aristocrat who wanted to study the American democracy. He was fascinated by how all Americans had an equal opportunity, which at that time (1830s) was not seen. He wanted to see the how democracy differed in Europe compared to what was being done in America. He felt that by studying it, he could figure out its strengths and weaknesses and use it as an advantage for many governments.
He wrote Democracy in America in May of 1831 because he wanted to know how an established democracy ran. At the time, France failed at establishing a democracy. When he wrote this document, America was still considered a young nation. For many people, they viewed America as a new beginning for all that it had promised.
This was written for a French audience because he wanted to influence reforms in a France that he feared would end up in another revolution. He believed that changes were necessary in order to keep France from failing yet again. He felt that by writing this book, he would spark a debate. His book had an impact in Europe and it was also successful in America because he predicted what would happen to America in the future.
He believes that the way people think in America, in terms of equality, the fact that people can move up in terms of social change will spread in politics, and he believes that this is inevitable. He hoped to
