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Alexis De Tocqueville

Alexis De Tocqueville's Democracy in America is a 19th century masterpiece full of thought and theories so remarkable that it is still regarded as a top reference on the development of the United States of America. Alexis De Tocqueville was a Frenchman that was sent on a mission along with another researcher in 1831 to study the American prison system to help develop their own; however, Tocqueville was so impressed with the country, he went on to study the social, economical and political factors that defined the United States. As a foreigner that had never been to America before, Tocqueville was able to notice many things that were taken for granted by Americans and therefore his book was not only interesting to Europeans who were curious on how the country became so prosperous and successful, but was also a great resource for Americans themselves on how everything on this side of the hemisphere functioned and what they can do to improve it. Following his nine-month visit to America, Tocqueville wrote volume I of his book, showing optimism and focusing on major issues like freedom, equality, and government formation. In the second volume, he emphasized individualism and how living in a democratic country affects people's mentality and therefore the society as a whole. In his complete analysis of the nation, Tocqueville pointed out many problems with the democratic system and the United States under Andrew Jackson. He also suggested solutions to those problems and came up with his own ideas on how to develop an ideal democracy. In comparing the two volumes of the book, Tocqueville seemed to ignore slavery as a contributor to American life in the 1830's, as his definitions of equality and freedom excluded those of slaves. Otherwise, Tocqueville covered all the merits of democracy and all the threats posed by it, at the same time suggesting what could be changed for the better of the nation.
The first volume of the book started out by giving a physical...