Equality Of Conditions By Alexis De Tocqueville

Alexis De Tocqueville came to America during the Jacksonian era in 1831 and 1832. During his time here, he made concrete observations about everything he witnessed. His book captures his insightful generalizations on the essence of America. Tocqueville believed America was the most advanced example of a great democratic revolution. However, he identified the main problems of a democracy as the following: a disproportionately high amount of power in the legislative branch, an abuse of of love for freedom, an outrageous drive for equality, individualism, and materialism. Democracy in America has a paramount theme, the preservation of liberty in the midst of a growing equality of conditions. Tocqueville noted social equality as the defining characteristic …show more content…
It is important to note the definition of equality in Tocqueville's time is different from equality today. During this time, primo geniture came to an end. This meant there was no longer any family bloodline in land ownership. Land ownership was longer the defining characteristic between social classes. Now, there was more mobility to move in between social classes. Intellectual learning was becoming more valued as an indication of social status rather than land ownership. Land was able to passed down through generations, however you can not pass down intellectual learning. (61-66) Tocqueville explained, “There is no class, then, in America which passes to its descendants the love of intellectual pleasures along with its wealth or which holds the labors of the intellect in high esteem,” (65). Tocqueville viewed Americans as desperate to improve their social status. Americans can have people under them, but not over them. American men have passion for equality but this arouses men’s desire to be strong and honored. Along with equality, Tocqueville believed democratic nations had a natural taste for