Name: _________________________ Class:
______________
HW#1
Read
summary below and annotate. Answer
the questions completely on a separate sheet of paper. Look up any words you do not
understand. Be prepared to use and
discuss your answers. No
excuses! Quality always counts!
Main Ideas of Alexis de
Tocqueville’s Democracy in America
The primary focus of Democracy
in America was to provide an analysis of representative democracy in the
United States. Alexis de Tocqueville examined America with a particular focus
upon the strengths and weaknesses of our system based on what he viewed through
his travels. A few interesting observations that he made:
• He stated that Americans largely respect the
laws because they are essentially derived from citizens.
• He stated that the major strength of our law
system is the ability that the judicial system has to correct itself.
• He stated that many Americans share the common
value that hard work will bring success and greater wealth.
• He stated that the separation of the church and
the state (and societal acceptance of it) was also a strength of the American
system.
• He did not believe that blacks and Indians
would ever be viewed on equal terms as whites, and he correctly predicted that
the slavery conflict would later become a significant problem for the United
States
• As a criticism, he stated that while democracy
is powerful because it involves the active participation of the people, some
citizens are not informed enough to make the best decisions about electing
proper leadership.
• Also as a criticism, he stated that because the
majority always win in a democratic system, individuals among the minority have
to suffer the rule of the majority, even though they do not agree. He called this
the “tyranny of the majority”. He
stated this could also lead to mass conformity to the majority opinion not out
of agreement, but for personal security.
Questions
1 – In your own words explain 2 ways American
democracy is a good thing.
2 – In your own words explain 2 possible problems
with our democracy.
3 – Explain how Tocqueville’s words apply to
American and its citizens today.
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