Click below to read Tocqueville's views on a variety of issues. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, read the whole whole book or pick a chapter.
It's also possible to review the books and documents Tocqueville relied upon to learn more about America.
"...I know of no other country where love of money has such a grip on men's hearts or
where stronger scorn is expressed for the theory of permanent equality of property."
"If there ever are great revolutions there, they will be caused by the presence of the blacks
upon American soil. That is to say, it will not be the equality of social conditions but rather their
inequality which may give rise thereto."
"The electors see their representative not only as a legislator for the state but also as the
natural protector of local interests in the legislature; indeed, they almost seem to think that he has
a power of attorney to represent each constituent, and they trust him to be as eager in their
private interests as in those of the country."
"Americans of all ages, all stations of life, and all types of disposition are forever forming
associations...In democratic countries knowledge of how to combine is the mother of all other
forms of knowledge; on its progress depends that of all the others."
"I am far from denying that newspapers in democratic countries lead citizens to do very
ill-considered things in common; but without newspapers there would be hardly any common
action at all. So they mend many more ills than they cause."
"There is hardly a congressman prepared to go home until he has at least one speech printed
and sent to his constituents, and he won't let anybody interrupt his harangue until he has made
all his useful suggestions about the 24 states of the Union, and especially the district he
represents."
"They certainly are not great writers, but they speak their country's language and they make
themselves heard."
"In America, more than anywhere else in the world, care has been taken constantly to trace
clearly distinct spheres of action for the two sexes, and both are required to keep in step, but
along paths that are never the same."
"In towns it is impossible to prevent men from assembling, getting excited together and
forming sudden passionate resolves. Towns are like great meeting houses with all the inhabitants
as members. In them the people wield immense influence over their magistrates and often carry
their desires into execution without intermediaries."
REVOLUTION
CONSTITUENTS
ASSOCIATIONS
NEWSPAPERS
SPEECHES IN CONGRESS
JOURNALISTS
WOMEN AND MEN
TOWN GOVERNMENT