Democracy in America, Volume 1 — Alexis de Tocqueville
by Alexis de Tocqueville You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org . If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title : Democracy in America — Volume 1 Author : Alexis de Tocqueville Translator : Henry Reeve Release date : January 21, 2006 [eBook #815] Most recently updated: June 11, 2024 Language : English Other information and formats : www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/815 Credits : David Reed and David Widger *** START OF , ETC. Translated by Henry Reeve, Esq. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET 1835 Contents Book One Introductory Chapter Chapter I: Exterior Form Of North America Chapter Summary Chapter II: Origin Of The Anglo-Americans—Part I Chapter Summary Chapter II: Origin Of The Anglo-Americans—Part II Chapter III: Social Conditions Of The Anglo-Americans Chapter Summary Chapter IV: The Principle Of The Sovereignty Of The People In America Chapter Summary Chapter V: Necessity Of Examining The Condition Of The States—Part I Chapter V: Necessity Of Examining The Condition Of The States—Part II Chapter V: Necessity Of Examining The Condition Of The States—Part III Chapter VI: Judicial Power In The United States Chapter Summary Chapter VII: Political Jurisdiction In The United States Chapter Summary Chapter VIII: The Federal Constitution—Part I Chapter Summary Summary Of The Federal Constitution Chapter VIII: The Federal Constitution—Part II Chapter VIII: The Federal Constitution—Part III Chapter VIII: The Federal Constitution—Part IV Chapter VIII: The Federal Constitution—Part V Chapter IX: Why The People May Strictly Be Said To Govern In The United Chapter X: Parties In The United States Chapter Summary Parties In The United States Chapter XI: Liberty Of The Press In The United States Chapter Summary Chapter XII: Political Associations In The United States Chapter Summary Chapter XIII: Government Of The Democracy In America—Part I Chapter XIII: Government Of The Democracy In America—Part II Chapter XIII: Government Of The Democracy In America—Part III Chapter XIV: Advantages American Society Derive From Democracy—Part I Chapter XIV: Advantages American Society Derive From Democracy—Part II Chapter XV: Unlimited Power Of Majority, And Its Consequences—Part I Chapter Summary Chapter XV: Unlimited Power Of Majority, And Its Consequences—Part II Chapter XVI: Causes Mitigating Tyranny In The United States—Part I Chapter Summary Chapter XVI: Causes Mitigating Tyranny In The United States—Part II Chapter XVII: Principal Causes Maintaining The Democratic Republic—Part I Chapter XVII: Principal Causes Maintaining The Democratic Republic—Part II Chapter XVII: Principal Causes Maintaining The Democratic Republic—Part III Chapter XVII: Principal Causes Maintaining The Democratic Republic—Part IV Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races In The United States—Part I Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part II Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part III Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part IV Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part V Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part VI Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part VII Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part VIII Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part IX Chapter XVIII: Future Condition Of Three Races—Part X Conclusion by Alexis de Tocqueville Book One Introductory Chapter Amongst the novel objects that attracted my attention during my stay in the United States, nothing struck me more forcibly than the general equality of conditions. I readily discovered the prodigious influence which this primary fact exercises on the whole course of society, by giving a certain direction to public opinion, and a certain tenor to the laws; by imparting new maxims to the governing powers, and peculiar habits to the governed. I speedily perceived that the influence of this fact extends far beyond the political character and the laws of the country, and that it has no less empire over civil society than over the Government; it creates opinions, engenders sentiments, suggests the ordinary practices of life, and modifies whatever it does not produce. The more I advanced in the study of American society, the more I perceived that the equality of conditions is the fundamental fact from which all others seem to be derived, and the central point at which all my observations constantly terminated. I then turned my thoughts to our own hemisphere, where I imagined that I discerned something analogous to the spectacle which the New World presented to me. I observed that the equality of conditions is daily progressing towards those extreme limits which it seems to have reached in the United States, and that the democracy which governs the American communities appears to be rapidly rising into power in Europe. I hence conceived the idea of the book which is now before the reader. It is evident to all alike that a great democratic revolution is going on amongst us; but there are two opinions as to its nature and consequences. To some it appears to be a novel accident, which as such may still be checked; to others it seems irresistible, because it is the most uniform, the most ancient, and the most permanent tendency which is to be found in history. Let us recollect the situation of France seven hundred years ago, when the territory was divided amongst a small number of families, who were the owners of the soil and the rulers of the inhabitants; the right of governing descended with the family inheritance from generation to generation; force was the only means by which man could act on man, and landed property was the sole source of power. Soon, however, the political power of the clergy was founded, and began to exert itself: the clergy opened its ranks t