Book Assignment #1: Democracy in America
DIRECTIONS: Before completing this assignment, you must read Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America, which can be found in the Bedford Bookshelf. After you fully read the book, answer the below questions in as much detail as possible. Your answer to each question should be a long paragraph (at least 10 sentences). Remember that the purpose of this assignment is to make sure you have read and understood the book, so be as specific as possible and avoid vagueness! Fill in your answers below and submit this entire sheet when you submit your assignment.
IMPORTANT: Citations are REQUIRED for this assignment. Each of your answers must be fully cited, or it will receive a zero. Use parenthetical citations with the page number you are referring to. For example, if you use information from page 15 of Democracy in America, you would insert (p. 15) at the end of your answer. If you used page 20 from The American Promise for your answer, your citation should specify that: (The American Promise, p. 20). DO NOT use direct quotes for this assignment—I want you to use your own words. (Note: You use parenthetical citations even when not quoting material. If you use information from a source, you must cite it.)
- How does Tocqueville define democracy, equality, liberty, and tyranny of the majority? Does he tend to use those word concepts consistently, or does his meaning seem to vary from time to time? (50 points)
- In his introduction, Tocqueville writes: “The emigrants who settled in America at the beginning of the seventeenth century [1600s] managed to extract the principle of democracy out of all those opposed to it at the heart of the old European societies, and they transplanted it, alone, on the shores of the New World. There, it was able to grow freely and, undisturbed, to develop laws in step with customs.” Using what you learned in the textbook about early British colonists, do you agree with Tocqueville’s view that early colonists planted seeds for democracy? Why or why not? Be specific. (50 points)
- Tocqueville is well remembered because of his concern about the possibility of a “tyranny of the majority.” What are his reasons? Do they seem well-founded in the American case? Why shouldn’t majority rule be inevitable in a democratic society? (50 points)
- If Tocqueville could time-travel and go on a similar tour of America today, do you think any of his conclusions would change? What do you think would be his major takeaways and conclusions about American democracy in 2025? (50 points)
SOLUTION
According to Tocqueville democracy represents an equality-based governmental system which gives people equal rights and possibilities yet he expresses anxieties about its outcomes (p. 15). According to Tocqueville equality serves as………..Purchase this solution for $15
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.