Democracy in America

By Andrew Bartz

The ideas of Alexis Tocqueville

Chapter 2: Part 1Origin of the Anglo-Americans, and the Importance of this Origin in Relation to their Future Condition.• This chapter is important because it "provides the germ of all that is to follow."• One needs to understand the origin of a nation in order to understand its social conditions and laws • America is the only great nation for which we can see the origins• Immigrants to America all shared a common language.• Their English heritage provided them with the knowledge and

experience of local self-government• America’s political laws were well ahead of their time• Laws demonstrated great knowledge of advanced social and

political theory• They provided education for the poor and the public at large

Chapter 7: Part 1Political Jurisdiction in the United States• Most of the time it is necessary for the political representatives to have judicial power• The House of Representatives has the right to prosecute and the

Senate has the right to punish• The House must initiate the proceedings, and only public officials

can be judged in this sort of trial • The United States differs from Europe in that political courts only have the power to remove from office, not to punish under criminal law• In Europe the political judgment is more of a judicial act, but in the United States it is more of an administrative act• The laws regarding political crimes are extremely vague in America• This makes political jurisdiction easier to use and thus more

influential

An old Pennsylvanian courthouse that is still in use

Chapter 2: Part 2Parties in the United States• “Parties are an evil inherent in free government.” – Tocqueville• After the Revolution, there were two great parties• Federalists- Wanted to restrict popular power • Republicans- Wanted to extend popular power

• The rich are somewhat excluded from government, and their can often even be a disadvantage in trying to gain political power•The main points in this chapter revolves around the dangerous democratic tendency to fall into tyranny of the majority•The Federalist party's ability to gain power was very important only because the Federalists wanted to restrict public power, and as a result they began a tradition which acted as a moderating influence on the demands of the majority

Alexander Hamilton, Federalist founder

Chapter 6: Part 2The real advantages derived by American Society from Democratic • The problems and defects of democracy are obvious, but the advantages can only be seen in the long run.• Some laws in America "are often defective or incomplete.”• In this chapter, Tocqueville points out his ideas of the generally poor quality of American legislation, although he also points out several advantages• While the laws in a democracy may not be crafted with the utmost

skill, they are at least not positively dangerous or aimed against the well-being of the majority, as they probably would be in an aristocracy

• The popular origin of laws gives them greater moral force• Allowing people to have a role in the government of the nation

makes them see the nation's interests as their and be more patriotic

Chapter 9: Part 2Principle causes which serve to maintain a democratic republic in the United States• According to Tocqueville, there is no great capital in America that has an influence over the whole land, and this situation helps to maintain the local liberties which are so important for freedom•The land itself has helped America to remain strong because it gave the people the ability to remain equal and free• In contrasting America and France, the one all-important factor that Tocqueville sees as creating a salutary religious situation in America as opposed to France is the separation of church and state.•During Tocqueville’s travels in America, he found that "the main reason for the quiet sway of religion over their country was the complete separation of church and state.“•Tocqueville concluded from his analysis that religion is one of the key forces that tends to the preservation of democratic societies

An old American church