Democracy in America, Volume 2

Name: Democracy in America, Volume 2
Author: Alexis de Tocqueville

The second volume of Democracy in America explores the American system of government and its effects on society. Tocqueville examines the relationship between the people and their leaders, arguing that democracy can lead to a tyranny of the majority. He also discusses the role of education, the press, and civil associations in shaping public opinion. Tocqueville critiques the idea of equality, suggesting that it can lead to a lack of individuality and a focus on material possessions. He also explores the concept of liberty, arguing that it is not just the absence of oppression but also the ability to act freely. The volume concludes with an examination of the potential dangers of democracy, including the rise of demagogues and the erosion of civil liberties. Tocqueville argues that a healthy democracy requires a balance between individual rights and collective interests.

By Alexis de Tocqueville · First published 1835 · Genre: Political Science, Sociology, Philosophy · 42 chapters

Preface to the Second Part
CHAPTER I: Philosophical Method Among the Americans
CHAPTER I: Why Democratic Nations Show A More Ardent And Enduring Love Of Equality Than Of Liberty
CHAPTER II: Of The Principal Source Of Belief Among Democratic Nations
CHAPTER II: Of Individualism In Democratic Countries
CHAPTER III: Why The Americans Display More Readiness And More Taste For General Ideas Than Their Forefathers, The English
CHAPTER III: Individualism Stronger At The Close Of A Democratic Revolution Than At Other Periods
CHAPTER IV: Why The Americans Have Never Been So Eager As The French For General Ideas In Political Matters
CHAPTER IV: That The Americans Combat The Effects Of Individualism By Free Institutions
CHAPTER V: Of The Manner In Which Religion In The United States Avails Itself Of Democratic Tendencies
CHAPTER V: Of The Use Which The Americans Make Of Public Associations In Civil Life
CHAPTER VI: Of The Progress Of Roman Catholicism In The United States
CHAPTER VI: Of The Relation Between Public Associations And Newspapers
CHAPTER VII: Of The Cause Of A Leaning To Pantheism Amongst Democratic Nations
CHAPTER VII: Connection Of Civil And Political Associations
CHAPTER VIII: The Principle Of Equality Suggests To The Americans The Idea Of The Indefinite Perfectibility Of Man
CHAPTER VIII: The Americans Combat Individualism By The Principle Of Interest Rightly Understood
CHAPTER IX: The Example Of The Americans Does Not Prove That A Democratic People Can Have No Aptitude And No Taste For Science, Literature, Or Art
CHAPTER IX: That The Americans Apply The Principle Of Interest Rightly Understood To Religious Matters
CHAPTER X: Why The Americans Are More Addicted To Practical Than To Theoretical Science
CHAPTER X: Of The Taste For Physical Well-Being In America
CHAPTER XI: Of The Spirit In Which The Americans Cultivate The Arts
CHAPTER XI: Peculiar Effects Of The Love Of Physical Gratifications In Democratic Ages
CHAPTER XII: Why The Americans Raise Some Monuments So Insignificant, And Others So Important
CHAPTER XII: Causes Of Fanatical Enthusiasm In Some Americans
CHAPTER XIII: Literary Characteristics Of Democratic Ages
CHAPTER XIII: Causes Of The Restless Spirit Of Americans In The Midst Of Their Prosperity
CHAPTER XIV: The Trade Of Literature
CHAPTER XIV: Taste For Physical Gratifications United In America To Love Of Freedom And Attention To Public Affairs
CHAPTER XV: The Study Of Greek And Latin Literature Peculiarly Useful In Democratic Communities
CHAPTER XV: That Religious Belief Sometimes Turns The Thoughts Of The Americans To Immaterial Pleasures
CHAPTER XVI: The Effect Of Democracy On Language
CHAPTER XVI: That Excessive Care Of Worldly Welfare May Impair That Welfare
CHAPTER XVII: Of Some Of The Sources Of Poetry Amongst Democratic Nations
CHAPTER XVII: That In Times Marked By Equality Of Conditions And Sceptical Opinions, It Is Important To Remove To A Distance The Objects Of Human Actions
CHAPTER XVIII: Of The Inflated Style Of American Writers And Orators
CHAPTER XVIII: That Amongst The Americans All Honest Callings Are Honorable
CHAPTER XIX: Some Observations On The Drama Amongst Democratic Nations
CHAPTER XIX: That Almost All The Americans Follow Industrial Callings
CHAPTER XX: Characteristics Of Historians In Democratic Ages
CHAPTER XX: That Aristocracy May Be Engendered By Manufactures
CHAPTER XXI: Of Parliamentary Eloquence In The United States

Democracy in America, Volume 2

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