Question

Explain how the united states government differed from foreign governments at the time of alexis de tocqueville's visit

Answer 1

Alexis de Tocqueville was a French diplomat and political philosopher, best known for his work Democracy in America. The work was written after Tocqueville’s travels in America, and it presents a valuable study on the conditions of American society in the early 19th century. Some of the characteristics that Tocqueville found in American government that made it different from other foreign governments were:

• A Puritan founding of the government. This contributed to several characteristics, such as valuing equality, a union of political liberty and religion and the appreciation of sovereignty.

• The abolition of primogeniture (the practice of the firstborn son to inherit a father’s state, as opposed to daughters, illegitimate children, younger sons, etc.). This meant that equality was more predominant, women had better opportunities to acquire money and a family’s wealth changed hands more often.

• The collapse of the aristocracy, and the dominance of the commons in political life.

• The extent of democracy, which could lead to a “tyranny of the majority” (the majority becoming despotic and oppressing minorities).

• A blinding belief in the equality of men, which Tocqueville believed could become dangerous.

Answer 2

Explain how the united states governmoent differed from foreign goverments at the time of alexis de tocquevilles vist