Alex De Tocqueville: democracy in French and America

Question 1

What were the characteristics of American democracy?

Answer 1

American democracy:
1. Wealth equality increased. People were allowed to have private properties.

2. The broad electoral rights in the American republic.
   - Characterized by equality with material and economic equality.
3. Intellectual equality. They shared basic education and everyone had the right to educate.
4. Political equality. The right to vote and participate in politics.
5. Democracy constitutes the social state and the political law that protected the notion of equality.
6. America become independent from Britain and they were able to create a whole new system. The situation in France was way more complicated.
7. The separation of the church and the state.

Inequalities: civil rights are not included other races and women of any race.

Question 2

What were the characteristics of the French Revolution?

Answer 2

1. French is not only on the pathway to democratisation but radical and revolutionary.
2. No separation between the state and the church and it produced conflicts.
3. The land of France was owned by a specific class.
4. No geographical freedom.
5. Centralized with isolation and collective individualism.

Question 3

His view on the role of religion in society

Answer 3

1. He did not abandon his religious belief as Christain insisted on the equality of all human beings are naturally equal and having the right to certain levels of goods and enjoyment.
2. Religion functioned as a private sphere and kept away from political power and institutions.
3. Necessary for a healthy democracy on a vision beyond the material, such as teaching moral values by raising human hearts and souls. Human nature turned toward religion, faith and things that are spiritual.
4. Church and state should be separated. Religion is philosophical, spiritual and non-political.

Question 4

What are the dangers of democracy?

Answer 4

1. 18th-century France was the case that shows the danger of democracy when it comes without political liberty.
2. The centralized government may threaten individual liberty.
3. Acknowledged that democracy has the potential to lead to a “Tyranny of the Majority” aka the majority using its power to oppress the rights and freedom of the minority.
4. The danger of despotism through negative liberty and radical equality and freedom encourages the materialism and selfishness of individualism.
5. The danger of mass and uneducated voting e.g. Trump and Hitler.

Question 5

What was his view of democracy?

Answer 5

1. Human moral responsibility will decide whether democracy is liberal or despotic.
2. Equality. The sovereignty of the people.
3. Equality of condition (the concept from America): material, economic, social, psychological and intellectual.
   - Freedom needs practice. Freedom is not only a right but also requires civil engagement and educating people on how to govern themselves.
4. Egalitarian laws need to be matched by similar political power and laws.