If you want to understand the U.S. Constitution, you must first read it carefully. Next, read The Federalist Papers. Then read Democracy in America, because this captures the essence of the American political system more insightfully than any book other than The Federalist Papers. These two books complement each other: The Federalist Papers presents the workings of the Constitution as its authors intended it, and Democracy in America shows how it actually worked forty years later.
Tocqueville was a French aristocrat possessed of remarkable intellectual acuity. In 1831-1832, he and a companion traveled all over the United States on an official French government mission to learn about the American prison system, with an eye towards reforming the French system. But Tocqueville’s mind was far too penetrating to confine itself to prisons — he delved into every aspect of the American political system. It was important, he thought, to document its operation because America was at that time the only genuine democracy on the planet, and Europe was growing ever more restless under the aristocratic regimes of the day. Everybody knew that democracy would someday supplant the old governments, but there was considerable uncertainty as to whether democracy was truly practical in Europe.
Tocqueville’s status as a French government official on a fact-finding mission, combined with his natural charm and penetrating wit, opened doors all over the country. He spoke with President Jackson, several past and current Supreme Court justices, many Senators, Representatives, Governors, and other high officials. Americans were proud to explain their system to an eager-to-learn European. Standing a distance from the American government, but given access to its inner realms, Tocqueville was in an ideal position to assess its operation.
He didn’t just breeze from one posh meeting to another; he slogged through the backwoods of Kentucky, traveled on riverboats, took stagecoaches all over the country, and saw almost everything there was to see. On one occasion, struggling through backwoods Kentucky, he and his companion happened upon a pioneer family and spent the night sleeping with them on the dirt floor of their log cabin. All this gave Tocqueville great insight into the American people, and he was struck by the many differences between America and Europe.
Tocqueville was a French aristocrat possessed of remarkable intellectual acuity. In 1831-1832, he and a companion traveled all over the United States on an official French government mission to learn about the American prison system, with an eye towards reforming the French system. But Tocqueville’s mind was far too penetrating to confine itself to prisons — he delved into every aspect of the American political system. It was important, he thought, to document its operation because America was at that time the only genuine democracy on the planet, and Europe was growing ever more restless under the aristocratic regimes of the day. Everybody knew that democracy would someday supplant the old governments, but there was considerable uncertainty as to whether democracy was truly practical in Europe.
Tocqueville’s status as a French government official on a fact-finding mission, combined with his natural charm and penetrating wit, opened doors all over the country. He spoke with President Jackson, several past and current Supreme Court justices, many Senators, Representatives, Governors, and other high officials. Americans were proud to explain their system to an eager-to-learn European. Standing a distance from the American government, but given access to its inner realms, Tocqueville was in an ideal position to assess its operation.
He didn’t just breeze from one posh meeting to another; he slogged through the backwoods of Kentucky, traveled on riverboats, took stagecoaches all over the country, and saw almost everything there was to see. On one occasion, struggling through backwoods Kentucky, he and his companion happened upon a pioneer family and spent the night sleeping with them on the dirt floor of their log cabin. All this gave Tocqueville great insight into the American people, and he was struck by the many differences between America and Europe.
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