Tocqueville: Democracy in America

what does it mean for America to be “exceptional?”

it is different from other nations because it is not based on religion, ethnicity, race

defined by a set of political values and aspirations found in the Constitutional

how is US a “political nation?”

• founded at a definite time

• on certain values

• putatively not based on religion, ethnicity, race, national origin

• melting pot

what is the US creed?

core values (equality, liberty, popular sovereignty, some capitalism)

what is the general ideology of the US? (even if it is not always true)

liberal democracy

culture

complex web of beliefs, customs, practices, stories

broadly consisten ways of thinking/behaving by a group of people

what is political culture?

a subset of “culture”

distinctive set of beliefs/practices about how politics should work

largely agreed on by nation’s population and broadly stable over time

what is the standard political “creed” in America meant to involve?

• limited governemnt

• rights (especially individual rights)

• liberty (negative liberty- don’t interfere)

• equality of opportunity

• popular sovereignty

• individualism - self reliance > government reliance

what are the critiques of American exceptionalism?

• who are the “people”- slaves, Native Americans, and women were excluded

• religious exclusivity (American culture is Protestant Christianity)

• entrentched belief in racial/ethnic superiority (eugenics, racism, Jim Crow)

• melting pot vs nativism (exclusion of immigrants)

• classical republicanism/communitarianism (egalitarianism)

• gender biased/exlcusive

why are immigrants “born equal?”

they come to America for ideas and ideology they don’t bring class divisions

more egalitarianism

why is there no landed aristocracy?

plentiful land

industrial labor and work is as honorable

why are there no rigid social hierarchies?

unlike in Europe mobility is possible

gender is more equal

what is the role of religion?

lack of an established religion (even though there is a leaning towards Christianity), religiosity

America’s religion is like democracy

keeps you from becoming overally obsessed with material goods

why is comparison an issue?

narcissm of mind and difference makes people obssed with differences

popular sovereignty is a

founding principle

what is the role of the State?

basic function= political equality + individual freedom (lack of freedom stifles creativity/productivty)

not a pure watchman state- some interventionism

what does Tocqueville say about the individual and community?

wants democracy done below the leve of the state as well

free associations- makes democracy work

what are the problems for the US?

competition as a barrier - have to scramble just to keep up

industrial aristocracy and the DOL- can degrade us

obsession with material goods- we don’t engage in democratic politics which can lead to someone taking over

thinks indigenous people will be eradicated