Democracy in America (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Equality, Liberty, and the Tyranny of the Majority in American Civic LifeBy Alexis de Toqueville
Length36h 34m
About this audiobook
Democracy in America is a foundational analysis of the political, social, and moral consequences of democratic equality in the United States. Combining travel narrative, political theory, sociology, and philosophical reflection, Alexis de Tocqueville examines federalism, local self-government, religion, civil associations, the press, and the "tyranny of the majority." Written in a lucid, comparative style, the work belongs to the great nineteenth-century tradition of liberal political inquiry, yet it remains strikingly modern in its attention to culture, habits, and institutions. Tocqueville, a French aristocrat born after the Revolution, visited America in 1831 ostensibly to study its prison system, but his deeper concern was the democratic future of Europe. His background in a society marked by revolution, centralization, and class upheaval sharpened his perception of America's experiment. He wrote not as an uncritical admirer, but as a liberal thinker seeking to understand how freedom might survive in an age of equality. This book is essential for readers interested in democracy, American identity, political liberty, and modern society. Its insights into individualism, civic life, religion, public opinion, and administrative power continue to illuminate contemporary political dilemmas with unusual clarity.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenrePolitics and Government
Length36 hrs 34 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 3, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
67Chapter XIV: Taste For Physical Gratifications United In America To Love Of Freedom And Attention To Public Affairs
2Introduction
68Chapter XV: That Religious Belief Sometimes Turns The Thoughts Of The Americans To Immaterial Pleasures
3Synopsis
69Chapter XVI: That Excessive Care Of Worldly Welfare May Impair That Welfare
4Historical Context
70Chapter XVII: That In Times Marked By Equality Of Conditions And Sceptical Opinions, It Is Important To Remove To A Distance The Objects Of Human Actions
5Author Biography
71Chapter XVIII: That Amongst The Americans All Honest Callings Are Honorable
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6BOOK ONE
72Chapter XIX: That Almost All The Americans Follow Industrial Callings
7Introductory Chapter
73Chapter XX: That Aristocracy May Be Engendered By Manufactures
8Chapter I: Exterior Form Of North America
74BOOK THREE: Influence Of Democracy On Manners, Properly So Called
9Chapter II: Origin Of The Anglo-Americans And Its Importance, in Relation to Their Future Condition
75Chapter I: That Manners Are Softened As Social Conditions Become More Equal
10Chapter III: Social Conditions Of The Anglo-Americans
76Chapter II: That Democracy Renders The Habitual Intercourse Of The Americans Simple And Easy
11Chapter IV: The Principle Of The Sovereignty Of The People In America
77Chapter III: Why The Americans Show So Little Sensitiveness In Their Own Country, And Are So Sensitive In Europe
12Chapter V: Necessity Of Examining The Condition Of The States Before That Of The Union At Large.
78Chapter IV: Consequences Of The Three Preceding Chapters
13Chapter VI: Judicial Power In The United States And Its Influence On Political Society
79Chapter V: How Democracy Affects the Relation Of Masters And Servants
14Chapter VII: Political Jurisdiction In The United States
80Chapter VI: That Democratic Institutions And Manners Tend To Raise Rents And Shorten The Terms Of Leases
15Chapter VIII: The Federal Constitution (pt. 1)
81Chapter VII: Influence Of Democracy On Wages
16Chapter VIII: The Federal Constitution (pt. 2)
82Chapter VIII: Influence Of Democracy On Kindred
17Chapter IX
83Chapter IX: Education Of Young Women In The United States
18Chapter X: Parties In The United States
84Chapter X: The Young Woman In The Character Of A Wife
19Chapter XI: Liberty Of The Press In The United States
85Chapter XI: That The Equality Of Conditions Contributes To The Maintenance Of Good Morals In America
20Chapter XII: Political Associations In The United States
86Chapter XII: How The Americans Understand The Equality Of The Sexes
21Chapter XIII: Government Of The Democracy In America
87Chapter XIII: That The Principle Of Equality Naturally Divides The Americans Into A Number Of Small Private Circles
22Chapter XIV: What The Real Advantages Are Which American Society Derives From The Government Of The Democracy
88Chapter XIV: Some Reflections On American Manners
23Chapter XV: Unlimited Power Of Majority, And Its Consequences
89Chapter XV: Of The Gravity Of The Americans, And Why It Does Not Prevent Them From Often Committing Inconsiderate Actions
24Chapter XVI: Causes Mitigating Tyranny In The United States
90Chapter XVI: Why The National Vanity Of The Americans Is More Restless And Captious Than That Of The English
25Chapter XVII: Principal Causes Maintaining The Democratic Republic In The United States
91Chapter XVII: That The Aspect Of Society In The United States Is At Once Excited And Monotonous
26Chapter XVIII: The Present And Probable Future Condition Of The Three Races Which Inhabit The Territory Of The United States (pt. 1)
92Chapter XVIII: Of Honor *a In The United States And In Democratic Communities
27Chapter XVIII: The Present And Probable Future Condition Of The Three Races Which Inhabit The Territory Of The United States (pt. 2)
93Chapter XIX: Why So Many Ambitious Men And So Little Lofty Ambition Are To Be Found In The United States
28Conclusion
94Chapter XX: The Trade Of Place-Hunting In Certain Democratic Countries
29BOOK TWO:Influence Of Democracy On Progress Of Opinion in The United States
95Chapter XXI: Why Great Revolutions Will Become More Rare
30De Tocqueville's Preface To The Second Part
96Chapter XXII: Why Democratic Nations Are Naturally Desirous Of Peace, And Democratic Armies Of War
31Section I: Influence of Democracy on the Action of Intellect in The United States.
97Chapter XXIII: Which Is The Most Warlike And Most Revolutionary Class In Democratic Armies?
32Chapter I: Philosophical Method Among the Americans
98Chapter XXIV: Causes Which Render Democratic Armies Weaker Than Other Armies At The Outset Of A Campaign, And More Formidable In Protracted Warfare
33Chapter II: Of The Principal Source Of Belief Among Democratic Nations
99Chapter XXV: Of Discipline In Democratic Armies
34Chapter III: Why The Americans Display More Readiness And More Taste For General Ideas Than Their Forefathers, The English.
100Chapter XXVI: Some Considerations On War In Democratic Communities
35Chapter IV: Why The Americans Have Never Been So Eager As The French For General Ideas In Political Matters
101BOOK FOUR: Influence Of Democratic Opinions On Political Society
36Chapter V: Of The Manner In Which Religion In The United States Avails Itself Of Democratic Tendencies
102Chapter I: That Equality Naturally Gives Men A Taste For Free Institutions
37Chapter VI: Of The Progress Of Roman Catholicism In The United States
103Chapter II: That The Notions Of Democratic Nations On Government Are Naturally Favorable To The Concentration Of Power
38Chapter VII: Of The Cause Of A Leaning To Pantheism Amongst Democratic Nations
104Chapter III: That The Sentiments Of Democratic Nations Accord With Their Opinions In Leading Them To Concentrate Political Power
39Chapter VIII: The Principle Of Equality Suggests To The Americans The Idea Of The Indefinite Perfectibility Of Man
105Chapter IV: Of Certain Peculiar And Accidental Causes Which Either Lead A People To Complete Centralization Of Government, Or Which Divert Them From It
40Chapter IX: The Example Of The Americans Does Not Prove That A Democratic People Can Have No Aptitude And No Taste For Science, Literature, Or Art
106Chapter V: That Amongst The European Nations Of Our Time The Power Of Governments Is Increasing, Although The Persons Who Govern Are Less Stable
41Chapter X: Why The Americans Are More Addicted To Practical Than To Theoretical Science
107Chapter VI: What Sort Of Despotism Democratic Nations Have To Fear
42Chapter XI: Of The Spirit In Which The Americans Cultivate The Arts
108Chapter VII: Continuation Of The Preceding Chapters
43Chapter XII: Why The Americans Raise Some Monuments So Insignificant, And Others So Important
109Chapter VIII: General Survey Of The Subject
44Chapter XIII: Literary Characteristics Of Democratic Ages
110APPENDIX TO VOLUME I. AND II.
45Chapter XIV: The Trade Of Literature
111Volume I.
46Chapter XV: The Study Of Greek And Latin Literature Peculiarly Useful In Democratic Communities
112Appendix A
47Chapter XVI: The Effect Of Democracy On Language
113Appendix B
48Chapter XVII: Of Some Of The Sources Of Poetry Amongst Democratic Nations
114Appendix C
49Chapter XVIII: Of The Inflated Style Of American Writers And Orators
115Appendix D
50Chapter XIX: Some Observations On The Drama Amongst Democratic Nations
116Appendix E
51Chapter XX: Characteristics Of Historians In Democratic Ages
117Appendix F
52Chapter XXI: Of Parliamentary Eloquence In The United States
118Volume II.
53Section 2: Influence of Democracy on the Feelings of Americans
119Appendix G
54Chapter I: Why Democratic Nations Show A More Ardent And Enduring Love Of Equality Than Of Liberty
120Appendix H
55Chapter II: Of Individualism*a In Democratic Countries
121Appendix I
56Chapter III: Individualism Stronger At The Close Of A Democratic Revolution Than At Other Periods
122Appendix K
57Chapter IV: That The Americans Combat The Effects Of Individualism By Free Institutions
123Appendix L
58Chapter V: Of The Use Which The Americans Make Of Public Associations In Civil Life
124Appendix M
59Chapter VI: Of The Relation Between Public Associations And Newspapers
125Appendix N
60Chapter VII: Connection Of Civil And Political Associations
126Appendix O
61Chapter VIII: The Americans Combat Individualism By The Principle Of Interest Rightly Understood
127Appendix P
62Chapter IX: That The Americans Apply The Principle Of Interest Rightly Understood To Religious Matters
128Appendix Q
63Chapter X: Of The Taste For Physical Well-Being In America
129Appendix R
64Chapter XI: Peculiar Effects Of The Love Of Physical Gratifications In Democratic Ages
130Analysis
65Chapter XII: Causes Of Fanatical Enthusiasm In Some Americans
131Reflection
66Chapter XIII: Causes Of The Restless Spirit Of Americans In The Midst Of Their Prosperity
132Memorable Quotes
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