Alexis de Tocqueville was born in Paris, France on July 29, 1805. He was born into an aristocratic family and had a relatively privileged life. His father, Herve-Bonaventure Clerel de Tocqueville, had a career in the French military as a second lieutenant. When Tocqueville was 16 years old he went to the college Royal in Metz, France to study philosophy. It was at this time that Tocqueville developed a passion for politics and he began to question the French aristocratic system. Afterwards, Tocqueville went to Paris to study law. The July revolution of 1830 had a big affect on Tocqueville’s family. Charles X abdicated, and Louis-Philippe took the throne. Because of the change of power, Alexis de Tocqueville’s position as Magistrate in Versailles
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Tocqueville talked about different types of patriotism. He said there is the kind that comes more from feeling and instinctive love rather than reason. An example Tocqueville used, is how someone feels about their birthplace, or how they feel about their ancestors. Americans do not share a common background; they came with different customs, cultures, and memories, and this is the reason Americans do not have a patriotism made from love, which at first may seem like a vice of America. The other kind of patriotism is more rational and derived from reason. It is a product of enlightenment and is caused by self-interest. Tocqueville said that this is the kind of patriotism that Americans have, and it seems to be unique to America. He said that Americans did not come for pride; they came for self-interest, which is a good thing. This prevents people from following a leader without extent or reason. Americans do not love and praise their leader like other countries do. They analyze their government’s actions and make sure they are treated fairly. Tocqueville said, “The common man in the United States perceives the influence of public prosperity upon his own happiness, an idea so simple and yet so little understood by …show more content…
Three significant benefits are how the majority influences the elected leaders, how the laws reflect the moral strength of the people, and patriotism derived from reason. Alexis de Tocqueville is a very important person in American history and in politics. He was the perfect candidate to analyze the political system in America at that time. He was very well educated, came from a powerful family, and had an outside view of America, which is very important. An American would not have been able to write such a convincing report because it would be biased. Today a democracy is the most popular form of government and I believe Tocqueville’s Democracy in America has an influence on that. His effect on Europe really changed the world. He believed in equality and liberty for all and you can see that in a majority of governments
Tocqueville talked about different types of patriotism. He said there is the kind that comes more from feeling and instinctive love rather than reason. An example Tocqueville used, is how someone feels about their birthplace, or how they feel about their ancestors. Americans do not share a common background; they came with different customs, cultures, and memories, and this is the reason Americans do not have a patriotism made from love, which at first may seem like a vice of America. The other kind of patriotism is more rational and derived from reason. It is a product of enlightenment and is caused by self-interest. Tocqueville said that this is the kind of patriotism that Americans have, and it seems to be unique to America. He said that Americans did not come for pride; they came for self-interest, which is a good thing. This prevents people from following a leader without extent or reason. Americans do not love and praise their leader like other countries do. They analyze their government’s actions and make sure they are treated fairly. Tocqueville said, “The common man in the United States perceives the influence of public prosperity upon his own happiness, an idea so simple and yet so little understood by …show more content…
Three significant benefits are how the majority influences the elected leaders, how the laws reflect the moral strength of the people, and patriotism derived from reason. Alexis de Tocqueville is a very important person in American history and in politics. He was the perfect candidate to analyze the political system in America at that time. He was very well educated, came from a powerful family, and had an outside view of America, which is very important. An American would not have been able to write such a convincing report because it would be biased. Today a democracy is the most popular form of government and I believe Tocqueville’s Democracy in America has an influence on that. His effect on Europe really changed the world. He believed in equality and liberty for all and you can see that in a majority of governments