From america s call for a free press to its embrace of the capitalist system, democracy in america first published in 1835enlightens, entertains, and endures as a brilliant study of our national government and character. The result was democracy in america, a monumental study of the strengths and weaknesses of the nations evolving politics. However, while here and touring the country he began something far more interesting, a work known as democracy in america. Tocqueville looked to the flourishing democratic system in america as a possible model for postrevolutionary france, believing its. Tocqueville s monumental book is as relevant today as when it was first published in the midnineteenth century, and it remains the most comprehensive, penetrating, and astute picture of american life, politics, and morals ever written whether by an american or, as in this case, a foreign visitor. The surprisingly large number of readers who chuckled over toby youngs how to lose friends. His ninemonth visit and subsequent reading and reflection resulted in democracy in america 183540, a landmark. Beinecke rare book and manuscript library, yale university. The complete and unabridged volumes i and ii bantam. Because this 1836 second edition corrected a number of errors in. Democracy in america is the first systematic and empirical study of the effects of political power on modern society nisbet.
Democracy in america, volume 1 this work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. It is evident to all alike that a great democratic revolution is going on amongst us. In democracy in america, he describes an incident that might be read as a darker version of the lucky discovery in florida. What struck him most was the countrys equality of conditions, its democracy. The american republic will endure until the day congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the publics money. In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution that he believed had been occurring over the previous seven hundred years. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read democracy in america. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Democracy in america has had the singular honor of being even. The statement has been frequently cited in whole or in part across the years by politicians, newspapers, books, and. Includes previously unpublished letters, essays, and other writings. Democracy in america is at once the best book ever written on democracy and the best book ever written on america.
The book he wrote on his return to france, democracy in america, is both the best ever written on democracy and the best ever written on america. Tocquevilles insights into american democracy deeply influenced european intellectual life and shaped the development of free institutions in the west. How is it that in the united states, whose residents, leaving customs and memories behind, came only recently to the land. He wrote democracy in america after visiting the united states during which he observed various elements of the prison system. In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution that he believed had been occurring. The result was democracy in america, a monumental study of the strengths and weaknesses of the nations evolvi. They have not only commercial and manufacturing companies, in which all take part, but associations of a thousand other kinds religious, moral, serious, futile, extensive or restricted, enormous or diminutive. Democracy in america by tocqueville, first edition abebooks. His ninemonth visit and subsequent reading and reflection resulted in democracy in america 183540, a landmark masterpiece of political observation and analysis. In the book, tocqueville captures the american character of the jacksonian era. It remains the most often quoted book about the united states, not only. Tocqueville s insights into american democracy deeply influenced european intellectual life and shaped the development of free institutions in the west.
In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution that he believed had been occurring over the previous several hundred years. This special edition contains the entire two volumes of democracy in america, based on the. Some people are astonished that a twentysixyearold frenchman with imperfect english could write the best book on america, after a brief visit to the country. The author documents his travels through america and contrasts his experiences with established aristocratic systems in western europe. From americas call for a free press to its embrace of the capitalist system, democracy in america first published in 1835enlightens, entertains, and endures as a. Its title translates as on democracy in america, but english translations are usually simply entitled democracy in america. While historians have viewed democracy as a rich source about the age of andrew jackson, tocqueville was more of a political thinker than a historian. Their friendship and their travels, edited by oliver zunz, translated by arthur goldhammer university of virginia press, 2011, 698 pages. In the book, tocqueville examines the democratic revolution that. His 9month go to and subsequent studying and reflection resulted in democracy in america 1835forty, a landmark masterpiece of political remark and evaluation. The primary focus of democracy in america is an analysis of why republican representative democracy has succeeded in the united.