Alexis de Tocqueville’s Followers (803)

Alexis de Tocqueville

Born

in Cannes, France

July 29, 1805

Died

April 16, 1859

Genre

Social Sciences, Politics

Influences

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu, Blaise Pascal, Plato, Aristotle ...more

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Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville (July 29, 1805 – April 16, 1859) was a French political thinker and historian best known for his Democracy in America (appearing in two volumes: 1835 and 1840) and The Old Regime and the Revolution (1856). In both of these works, he explored the effects of the rising equality of social conditions on the individual and the state in western societies.

Democracy in America (1835), his major work, published after his travels in the United States, is today considered an early work of sociology and political science. An eminent representative of the classical liberal political tradition, Tocqueville was an active participant in French politics, first under the July Monarchy (1830–1848) and then during the Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville (July 29, 1805 – April 16, 1859) was a French political thinker and historian best known for his Democracy in America (appearing in two volumes: 1835 and 1840) and The Old Regime and the Revolution (1856). In both of these works, he explored the effects of the rising equality of social conditions on the individual and the state in western societies.

Democracy in America (1835), his major work, published after his travels in the United States, is today considered an early work of sociology and political science. An eminent representative of the classical liberal political tradition, Tocqueville was an active participant in French politics, first under the July Monarchy (1830–1848) and then during the Second Republic (1849–1851) which succeeded to the February 1848 Revolution. He retired from political life after Louis Napoléon Bonaparte's December 2, 1851 coup, and thereafter began work on The Old Regime and the Revolution, Volume I. After obtaining a law degree, Alexis de Tocqueville was named auditor-magistrate at the court of Versailles. There, he met Gustave de Beaumont, a prosecutor substitute, who collaborated with him on various literary works. Both were sent to the United States to study the penitentiary system. During this trip, they wrote Du système pénitentiaire aux Etats-Unis et de son application (1832). Back in France, Tocqueville became a lawyer. He met the English economist Nassau William Senior in 1833, and they became good friends and corresponded for many years.[1] He published his master-work, De la démocratie en Amérique, in 1835. The success of this work, an early model for the science that would become known as sociology, led him to be named chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) in 1837, and to be elected the next year to the Académie des sciences morales et politiques. In 1841 he was elected to the Académie française.

Tocqueville, who despised the July Monarchy (1830–1848), began his political career in the same period. Thus, he became deputy of the Manche department (Valognes), a position which he maintained until 1851. In parliament, he defended abolitionist views and upheld free trade, while supporting the colonization of Algeria carried on by Louis-Philippe's regime. Tocqueville was also elected general counsellor of the Manche in 1842, and became the president of the department's conseil général between 1849 and 1851.

Apart from Canada, Tocqueville also made an observational tour of England, producing Memoir on Pauperism. In 1841 and 1846, he traveled to Algeria. His first travel inspired his Travail sur l'Algérie, in which he criticized the French model of colonization, based on an assimilationist view, preferring instead the British model of indirect rule, which did not mix different populations together. He went as far as openly advocating racial segregation between the European colonists and the "Arabs" through the implementation of two different legislative systems (a half century before its effective implementation with the 1881 Indigenous code).

After the fall of the July Monarchy during the February 1848 Revolution, Tocqueville was elected a member of the Constituent Assembly of 1848, where he became a member of the Commission charged with the drafting of the new Constitution of the Second Republic (1848–1851). He defended bicameralism (two parliamentary chambers) and the election of the President of the Republic by universal suffrage. As the countryside was thought to be more conservative than the laboring population of Paris, universal suffrage was conceived as a means to block the revolutionary spirit of Paris.

During the Second Republic, Tocqueville sided with the parti de l'Ordre against the "socialists" and workers. A few days after the February insurrection, he believed a violent clash between the workers' population agitating in favor of a "Democratic and Social Republic" and ...more

Combine Editions
Alexis de Tocqueville’s books

Average rating: 4.04 · 30,683 ratings · 1,390 reviews · 399 distinct works • Similar authors

	Democracy in America 4.04 avg rating — 24,928 ratings — published 1835 — 1007 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Old Regime and the French Revolution 4.05 avg rating — 2,180 ratings — published 1856 — 452 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Democracy in America: Volume 1 by Alexis de Tocqueville, Daniel J. Boorstin (Introduction) 4.17 avg rating — 1,316 ratings — published 1835 — 824 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Democracy in America: Volume 2 4.15 avg rating — 889 ratings — published 1840 — 418 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Çoğunluğun Zorbalığı by Alexis de Tocqueville, İnci Malak Uysal (Translator) 3.72 avg rating — 285 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Demokratik Zorbalık by Alexis de Tocqueville, Ebru Erbaş (Goodreads Author) (Translator) 3.80 avg rating — 237 ratings — published 2019 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Recollections on the French Revolution 4.12 avg rating — 170 ratings — published 1893 — 144 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Memoir on Pauperism: Does Public Charity Produce an Idle and Dependent Class of Society? 3.96 avg rating — 123 ratings — published 1911 — 23 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Fortnight in the Wilderness 4.10 avg rating — 115 ratings — published 1861 — 33 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Letters from America by Alexis de Tocqueville, Frederick Brown (Editor) 3.96 avg rating — 100 ratings — published 2010 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Alexis de Tocqueville…

Series by Alexis de Tocqueville

De la Démocratie en Amérique (2 books)
by

Alexis de Tocqueville

4.16 avg rating — 2,205 ratings

Quotes by Alexis de Tocqueville (?)

“The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public's money.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville

tags: misattributed

588 likes

“I do not know if the people of the United States would vote for superior men if they ran for office, but there can be no doubt that such men do not run.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

tags: democracy

259 likes

“Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it. Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.”
― Alexis de Tocqueville

tags: theroadtoserfdom

247 likes

See all Alexis de Tocqueville's quotes »

Polls

Spotlighted Book Discussion Poll I - October 26, 2011

This is a poll that adds other books to our listing of potential non fiction books to discuss and also helps the moderators determine which one or ones are the most popular. Since we have many more group members than when we first started; voting in the polls is very important. There will be a series of polls. Many of these books have been recommended by group members but were either not selected before nor voted upon before.

Vote for the book that you would most like to read and/or is the book that you believe that would appeal to the most group members.

Note:

We have added some of the books nominated thus far but we have more to add to other polls. However, this poll was getting quite large.

However, if you do not see your favorite book on this list; then just comment or pop me a note and I will immediately add it to this poll.

You can always change your vote at any time; so nothing is lost. There are some books which have been nominated by the same author; however, skip over those if the particular author does not suit you and vote for your favorite or for one you or others might want to read.

Before making your selection, please try to look up your choice and make sure it really is a book you are interested in or you think others would be; do not be lured in by the title. Also, check out the author and what others have said about the book before you (reviewers who you trust). Then of course, make your selection.

And if you do not see your favorite, just contact me and I will add it to the poll.

Stacy Schiff

Cleopatra: A Life

18 votes, 10.6%

Hero The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia by Michael Korda

by Michael Korda

Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia

13 votes, 7.6%

A Country of Vast Designs James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent by Robert W. Merry

by Robert W. Merry

A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent

12 votes, 7.1%

by Philip Freeman

Alexander the Great

12 votes, 7.1%

The Storm of War A New History of the Second World War by Andrew Roberts

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The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War

12 votes, 7.1%

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett

Allison Hoover Bartlett

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession

11 votes, 6.5%

Laura Hillenbrand

9 votes, 5.3%

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by Doug Stanton

Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers

7 votes, 4.1%

The Clockwork Universe Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the Birth of the Modern World by Edward Dolnick

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The Clockwork Universe: Isaac Newton, the Royal Society and the Birth of the Modern World

6 votes, 3.5%

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Newton and the Counterfeiter: The Unknown Detective Career of the World's Greatest Scientist

5 votes, 2.9%

A History of God The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam by Karen Armstrong

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A History of God: The 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

5 votes, 2.9%

The Idea of America Reflections on the Birth of the United States by Gordon S. Wood

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The Idea of America: Reflections on the Birth of the United States

4 votes, 2.4%

The Ascent of Money A Financial History of the World by Niall Ferguson

Niall Ferguson

The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World

4 votes, 2.4%

The Painter's Chair George Washington and the Making of American Art by Hugh Howard

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The Painter's Chair: George Washington and the Making of American Art

4 votes, 2.4%

Paul Johnson

Churchill

3 votes, 1.8%

A History of the American People by Paul Johnson

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A History of the American People

3 votes, 1.8%

The Birth of Modern Politics Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and the Election of 1828 (Pivotal Moments in American History) by Lynn Hudson Parsons

by Lynn Hudson Parsons

The Birth of Modern Politics: Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams and the Election of 1828

3 votes, 1.8%

Winston's War Churchill, 1940-1945 by Max Hastings

Max Hastings

Winston's War: Churchill, 1940-1945

3 votes, 1.8%

U. S. Grant American Hero, American Myth by Joan Waugh

Joan Waugh

U. S. Grant: American Hero, American Myth

3 votes, 1.8%

Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy by Donald Kagan

by Donald Kagan

Pericles of Athens and the Birth of Democracy

3 votes, 1.8%

Letters from America by Alexis de Tocqueville

Alexis de Tocqueville

Letters from America

3 votes, 1.8%

Destiny Disrupted A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes by Tamim Ansary

by Tamim Ansary

Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes

3 votes, 1.8%

Modern Times The World from the 20s to the 90s by Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson

Modern Times: The World from the 20s to the 90s

2 votes, 1.2%

George W. Bush

Decision Points

2 votes, 1.2%

Tony Blair

The Journey

2 votes, 1.2%

The Age of Wonder How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard Holmes

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The Age of Wonder

2 votes, 1.2%

The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments by George B. Johnson

by George B. Johnson

The Ten Most Beautiful Experiments

2 votes, 1.2%

Thucydides The Reinvention of History by Donald Kagan

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Thucydides: The Reinvention of History

2 votes, 1.2%

by Gary W. Gallagher

The Union War

2 votes, 1.2%

Civilization The West and the Rest by Niall Ferguson

Niall Ferguson

Civilization: The West and the Rest

2 votes, 1.2%

God's Battalions The Case for the Crusades by Rodney Stark

Rodney Stark

God's Battalions: The Case for the Crusades

2 votes, 1.2%

Adam Smith

The Wealth of Nations

2 votes, 1.2%

Courage and Consequence My Life as a Conservative in the Fight by Karl Rove

Karl Rove

Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight

1 vote, 0.6%

Party over Section The Rough and Ready Presidential Election of 1848 (American Presidential Elections) by Joel H. Silbey

by Joel H. Silbey

Party Over Section: The Rough and Ready Presidential Election of 1848

1 vote, 0.6%

Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Living History

1 vote, 0.6%

Madam Secretary A Memoir by Madeleine Albright

Madeleine Albright

Madam Secretary: A Memoir

1 vote, 0.6%

Jesus A Biography, from a Believer by Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson

Jesus: A Biography from a Believer

0 votes, 0.0%

A History of the Jews (Perennial Library) by Paul Johnson

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A History of the Jews

0 votes, 0.0%

A History of Christianity by Paul Johnson

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A History of Christianity

0 votes, 0.0%

Stephen R. Bown

Merchant Kings

0 votes, 0.0%

The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith

Adam Smith

The Theory of Moral Sentiments

0 votes, 0.0%

170 total votes

16 comments

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