In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville journeyed from France to America to learn more about America. This trip was inspired by de Tocqueville’s clashing with the new government of Louis Philippe (C-SPAN, 1997-1998). This trip opened de Tocqueville’s eyes to democracy because he saw the successes of a government without the rule of a monarch or aristocratic influence. In Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville’s purpose is to share his experiences in America with his fellow Frenchmen and help them realize France ought to become a democracy by illustrating the profound differences between the governmental styles.
To de Tocqueville democracy is what a perfect, new toy is to a child. De Tocqueville’s first experience with democracy led him to view it as one of the best forms of government in the world. Therefore, he concluded America was a successful exemplar of democratic principles that other states could look to in the future. With this perception, de Tocqueville’s writing was meant to be used as an educative tool for the French to realize the oppressive nature of their government. Throughout Democracy in America de Tocqueville notes the importance of educated citizens in a democracy because it takes away a certain amount of vulnerability and lessens the chance that a democratic state would fall to the principles of a monarchy or aristocracy. Having a basic education also aids in the citizen’s ability to think for themselves and be capable of preserving their democracy, “Almost all Americans enjoy easy circumstances and can so easily acquire the basic elements of human knowledge.” (pg. 55).
De Tocqueville favors democracy because educated citizens correlate with the foundational elements of a democracy. The Americans were able to form and maintain their democracy because it was developed out of their ideas:
No necessity forced them to leave their country; they gave up a desirable social position and assured means of livelihood; nor was their object in going to the New World to better their position or accumulate wealth; they tore themselves away from home comforts in obedience to a purely intellectual craving; in facing the inevitable sufferings of exile they hoped for the triumph of an idea. (De Tocqueville, pg. 36)
Therefore, de Tocqueville views democracy as more personal for its citizens than a monarchy or aristocracy because they have more invested in it. The democracy was founded on the citizens’ ideas and hopes for the future, not the ideas and hopes of a monarch or aristocratic class. If the democracy were to be founded by a monarch or aristocracy, the citizens’ ability to act out their ideas would not be possible.
With the citizen’s ideas about democracy, localism arises. De Tocqueville illustrates how citizens across the country have contributed to the democratic process by bringing forth their ideas at the various stages of a democracy:
County and township are not constituted everywhere in the same way, but one can say that the organization of township and county in the United States everywhere depends on the same idea, viz., that each man is the best judge of his own interest and the best able to satisfy his private needs (pg. 82).
Associations can be related to localism because many associations that were founded in the 19th century had to do with addressing and improving the needs of Americans, “An association unites the energies of divergent minds and vigorously directs them towards a clearly indicated goal.” (pg. 190). For example, the New England Women’s Club, worked towards literary, charitable, philanthropic, educational, reformatory, political, and religious goals (Croly, pg. 37).
Even more, while bringing Americans into the social and political realm, associations’ acted as balancers towards the democracy, “they established a first line of defense against the concentration of monolithic state power.” (Ryan, pg. 579). If associations and citizen involvement were not present in a democracy, the democracy would easily fall to aristocratic or monarchic principles. As well as keeping the government officials in check, associations kept the citizen in check, “Nowhere has the law left greater scope to arbitrary power than in democratic republics, because there they feel they have nothing to fear from it.” (pg. 206). Associations kept citizens from naïveté. Furthermore, the various wants and needs the associations’ expressed, as well as where they placed their political power gave politicians good reason to pay attention to them:
Although it would take another generation for local associations of labor, women, and civil rights advocates to congeal into well-oiled national organizations capable of effecting federal policy, the defining characteristics of powerful social movements were apparent by 1850 (Ryan, pg. 579).
All in all, associations kept political officials and citizens from amassing to much power. The New England Women’s Club promoted the separation of power amongst citizens because, “It was to be a voluntary associating of kindred spirits, drawn together with no ties of family, neighborhood, or church.” (Croly, pg. 37).
De Tocqueville viewed equality as one of the most important aspects of a democracy. However, he viewed it as a double-edged sword. On one side, de Tocqueville viewed equality as a positive aspect. Democracy has fostered equality since its beginning and this has greatly contributed to America not falling to aristocratic or monarchic principles, “I said in the last chapter that a high degree of equality prevailed among the immigrants who first settled on the coast of New England.” (pg. 50). Equality amongst citizens has also led to the formation of associations because each equal citizen by himself/herself is not strong enough to influence the democracy. However, the weakness of each citizen is overall beneficial to the democracy because it limits the chances of a monarchy arising. De Tocqueville then views equality within a democracy as a dangerous aspect because it can easily lead to the destruction of the democracy. If all the citizens are equal, there is a strong chance that they will retreat within themselves to focus solely on themselves:
Individualism is a calm and considered feeling which disposes each citizen to isolate himself from the masses of his fellows and withdraw into the circle of his family and friends; with this little society formed to his taste, he gladly leaves the greater society to look after itself (pg. 506).
Due to the various associations in America, like the New England Women’s Club, they helped de Tocqueville form his perception on America and served as a successful exemplar for why democracy is one of the better forms of government.
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