What do you think?
Rate this book
Democracy In America
Democracy in America is a classic French text by Alexis de Tocqueville. Its title translates as On Democracy in America, but English translations are usually simply entitled Democracy in America. In the book, Tocqueville examines the democratic revolution that he believed had been occurring over the previous several hundred years.
Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2019
16 people are currently reading
570 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 12, 2025
This book is very dense, very long, and very informative. Jump right in and enjoy a snapshot of the USA from the mid 19th century.
The author has an uncanny ability to predict the outcome of future events in the USA as well as social dynamics. Certain of his observations, though approaching 200 years of age, are still insightful to the American Spirit.
The author has an uncanny ability to predict the outcome of future events in the USA as well as social dynamics. Certain of his observations, though approaching 200 years of age, are still insightful to the American Spirit.
June 10, 2025
Why I've never read that book before, I cannot understand. I read the Federalist Papers in 2003.
This is a book I should've read many years ago (you, too — that is, if you're an American). At least read the 1st volume of de Toqueville's book ... the Federalist Papers are just too lengthy and tiresome.
America, in 1830 when de Toqueville toured it extensively, had such a great promise! That promise has been totally trashed, beyond reclamation, in my opinion.
Toqueville, writing 45 years after the foundation of the United States, describes the workings of the country's governments (federal, state, and local) and, in detail, the contents of the new nation's charter of governance (the Constitution), and its initial amendments (the "Bill of Rights"). He stressed the importance of the "township" (essentially, municipal) government in the American social situation. That was the core of democracy, in his opinion; the people, knowledgeable in the matters they controlled, deeply involved in decision making, involved in politics and political discussion. Centralization of power was a threat de Tocqueville perceived to democracy.
He also describes in beautiful language the nature of the young country and the people he met as he toured it in 1831. He described the United States of America (the one that was established by its founders), with all its flaws, as the best country in the world ... once upon a time.
Of particular interest to me, was learning that the Executive branch of the federal government (the Presidency) was intentionally designed to be the weakest branch, subordinate to the will of Congress, the President could make no new laws, and could not refuse to uphold or enforce existing laws ... as a check on Congress, but not powerful enough to become totalitarian. The veto was given to the Presidency to pause legislation long enough that it could be debated by the representatives of the people in the House of Representatives. Every power of the Presidency was intended to be subject to the will of the people.
Nothing at all like the "unitary executive" of today, personified in the current President of the United States.
This is a book I should've read many years ago (you, too — that is, if you're an American). At least read the 1st volume of de Toqueville's book ... the Federalist Papers are just too lengthy and tiresome.
America, in 1830 when de Toqueville toured it extensively, had such a great promise! That promise has been totally trashed, beyond reclamation, in my opinion.
Toqueville, writing 45 years after the foundation of the United States, describes the workings of the country's governments (federal, state, and local) and, in detail, the contents of the new nation's charter of governance (the Constitution), and its initial amendments (the "Bill of Rights"). He stressed the importance of the "township" (essentially, municipal) government in the American social situation. That was the core of democracy, in his opinion; the people, knowledgeable in the matters they controlled, deeply involved in decision making, involved in politics and political discussion. Centralization of power was a threat de Tocqueville perceived to democracy.
He also describes in beautiful language the nature of the young country and the people he met as he toured it in 1831. He described the United States of America (the one that was established by its founders), with all its flaws, as the best country in the world ... once upon a time.
Of particular interest to me, was learning that the Executive branch of the federal government (the Presidency) was intentionally designed to be the weakest branch, subordinate to the will of Congress, the President could make no new laws, and could not refuse to uphold or enforce existing laws ... as a check on Congress, but not powerful enough to become totalitarian. The veto was given to the Presidency to pause legislation long enough that it could be debated by the representatives of the people in the House of Representatives. Every power of the Presidency was intended to be subject to the will of the people.
Nothing at all like the "unitary executive" of today, personified in the current President of the United States.
July 13, 2024
The impressions of Alexis de Tocqueville are very interesting and valuable for me for several reasons. Firstly, the author witnessed American democracy as it was still young and developing. This allowed him to trace the roots of many key democratic concepts and institutions and to reveal the logic behind them. Secondly, the book benefited greatly from comparisons with other social institution and mechanisms of the time (in France, England and other countries of Europe, including various versions of monarchies).
The author had his own view on what is good and bad in the democracy in America but was very careful to remain impartial when describing what he saw.
Tocqueville’s analysis is of great value even today, as it prompts us to assess modern democracy critically and to look for the ways to improve it.
The author had his own view on what is good and bad in the democracy in America but was very careful to remain impartial when describing what he saw.
Tocqueville’s analysis is of great value even today, as it prompts us to assess modern democracy critically and to look for the ways to improve it.
January 20, 2022
Classic text of which I actually read very little. Needed the reference for his criticisms of democracy in part 2 of book 2 which predict a growing individualism and atomism amongst its participants, developing into thoughts about whether such a 'society' is actually manageable, by a person that deeply and sincerely wished for its ever-lasting success.
As prescient as it sounds, it's wise to note that the atomization of the liberal subject has been nowhere near a linear process. However, these notes seem to me deeply insightful and worthy of reflection.
As prescient as it sounds, it's wise to note that the atomization of the liberal subject has been nowhere near a linear process. However, these notes seem to me deeply insightful and worthy of reflection.
October 16, 2025
There is a reason this is a classic. De Toqueville, a French aristocratic lawyer, provides a penetrating and thorough analysis of the various aspects and implications of American democracy. This is a must read for anyone seeking to truly understand the genius and the pitfalls of a democratic form of government, especially as it is expressed in the US. After this, I am definitely interested in reading his work on the French revolution and the regime preceding it.
Read
September 27, 2021Read this in College, and still remember it as a foreigner's impressions of a young and growing America in the 1830's.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews