All posts by Alexis de Tocqueville

Necessity Of Examining The Condition Of The States Before That Of The Union At Large Part II What, then, is the uniform plan on which the government is conducted, and how is the compliance of the counties and their magistrates or the townships and their officers enforced? In the States of New England the legislative…

Necessity Of Examining The Condition Of The States Before That Of The Union At Large Part I It is proposed to examine in the following chapter what is the form of government established in America on the principle of the sovereignty of the people; what are its resources, its hindrances, its advantages, and its dangers.…

The Principle Of The Sovereignty Of The People In America Chapter Summary It predominates over the whole of society in America – Application made of this principle by the Americans even before their Revolution – Development given to it by that Revolution – Gradual and irresistible extension of the elective qualification. The Principle Of The…

Social Conditions Of The Anglo-Americans Chapter Summary A Social condition is commonly the result of circumstances, sometimes of laws, oftener still of these two causes united; but wherever it exists, it may justly be considered as the source of almost all the laws, the usages, and the ideas which regulate the conduct of nations; whatever…

Origin Of The Anglo-Americans Part II The English Government was not dissatisfied with an emigration which removed the elements of fresh discord and of further revolutions. On the contrary, everything was done to encourage it, and great exertions were made to mitigate the hardships of those who sought a shelter from the rigor of their…