Alexis de Tocqueville

Alexis de Tocqueville

Alexis de Tocqueville (Alexis Charles Henri Clérel de Tocqueville) was born on July 29th, 1805. Alexis passed away April 16th, 1859 at 53 years old. Alexis de Tocqueville was born in Paris, France. de Tocqueville attended the University of Paris.

Alexis de Tocqueville was a French diplomat, aristocrat, historian, and political philosopher.

He examined the living standards and social conditions of individuals along with their relationship to the state and market in Western societies. Democracy in America is considered to be an early work of political science and sociology.

Alexis was active in French politics, first under July Monarchy and then during the Second Republic.

Alexis despised the July Monarchy, and started his political career in 1839. From 1839 until 1851, he served as member of the lower house of parliament for Manch department. He defended abolitionist views and upheld free trade.

He retired from political life after Louis Napoleon Bonaparte’s December 2, 1851 coup and thereafter started working on The Old Regime and the Revolution. He argued the importance of the French revolution was to continue the processes of modernizing and centralizing the French state which had started under King Louis XIV. He believed that the Revolution’s failure was due to the inexperience of the deputies that were much too wedded to abstract Enlightenment ideals.

Alexis was a classical liberal that advocated for parliamentary government and was skeptical of the extremes of majoritarianism. During his time in parliament, he was a member of the center-left initially before he moved to the center right, and the complex and restless nature of his own liberalism has led to some contrasting interpretations and admirers across the political spectrum.

Democracy in America was interpreted differently across national contexts. In the US and France, his work was seen to be liberal yet both conservatives and progressives in the British Isles interpreted the book to be supportive of their own positions.

Democracy in America is a contemporary study of the early American nation and its evolving democracy, from a French sociologist and aristocrat.

In 1831, Alexis set out from post-revolutionary France on a journey across America which took him 9 months and covered 7,000 miles. The result was this book, which is a prescient and subtle analysis of the institutions and life of America in the 19th century. Alexis looked to the flourishing democratic system in America as a potential model for post-revolutionary France, believing that the egalitarian ideals that it enshrined reflected the spirit of the age and divine will even. His study of the weaknesses and strengths of an evolving democratic society has been quoted by every American president since Eisenhower, and is still a key point of reference for any discussion of the democratic system or American nation.

Alexis de Tocqueville: Lists & Other Mentions

• Democracy in America has made several lists including:
  1. Ex Libris: 100 Books to Read and Reread Selection in 2020.
  2. Conde Nast: The Best Travel Books of All Time Selection in 2022.
  3. The Telegraph: The Perfect Library Selection in 2008.

Related Authors

Fans of Alexis de Tocqueville also enjoy these authors:

1. Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch Series.
2. John Grisham, author of the Jake Brigance Series.
3. Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
4. Charles Dickens, author of: A Christmas Carol.
5. Jane Austen, author of: Pride and Prejudice.

Alexis de Tocqueville: F.A.Q