Religion of Tocqueville's, Democracy in America
JD Ogilvie
McNamara
Pols. 3310
11/16/12
Long Paper Topic: Religion in Tocqueville’s ‘Democracy in America’
One of the major themes in Tocqueville’s ‘Democracy in America’ is that of religion; and its emphasis toward maintaining an efficient Democracy as demonstrated in the United States. Region influences both the political and social life of Americans that contribute to an efficient society under a democratic system. Tocqueville examines the Puritans as the point of departure for the United States. Religious values established good mores of the earliest Americans, which Tocqueville pronounces as one of the most fundamental tools toward establishing an efficient democratic system of government. Tocqueville proceeds to emphasize that the separation of the church and state in the United States is of importance. The failed French Revolution was in part due to their failure to separate the church and state in France according to Tocqueville. Lastly, Tocqueville observes the non-institutional factors which help to maintain freedom in the United States; the freedom of religion is of most importance. Religion teaches people how to use their freedom justly, while it is necessary that religion provide some moral boundaries within the state. Tocqueville accounts religion as an effective tool to combat both individualism and materialism; both of which tend to favor a Despotic government.
First, Tocqueville emphasizes the importance of the “point of departure” for understanding a nation. To Tocqueville, it is important to study the origin of a nation to better understand the social conditions and laws. He emphasizes that America is the only great nation in which the origin can be studied, while analyzing the nature of the modern democracy. America has the furthest while maintaining a democratic social state of freedom with a high degree of equality. Tocqueville fears that the inevitable growth of equal conditions can be both a help and a hindrance to freedom. One
McNamara
Pols. 3310
11/16/12
Long Paper Topic: Religion in Tocqueville’s ‘Democracy in America’
One of the major themes in Tocqueville’s ‘Democracy in America’ is that of religion; and its emphasis toward maintaining an efficient Democracy as demonstrated in the United States. Region influences both the political and social life of Americans that contribute to an efficient society under a democratic system. Tocqueville examines the Puritans as the point of departure for the United States. Religious values established good mores of the earliest Americans, which Tocqueville pronounces as one of the most fundamental tools toward establishing an efficient democratic system of government. Tocqueville proceeds to emphasize that the separation of the church and state in the United States is of importance. The failed French Revolution was in part due to their failure to separate the church and state in France according to Tocqueville. Lastly, Tocqueville observes the non-institutional factors which help to maintain freedom in the United States; the freedom of religion is of most importance. Religion teaches people how to use their freedom justly, while it is necessary that religion provide some moral boundaries within the state. Tocqueville accounts religion as an effective tool to combat both individualism and materialism; both of which tend to favor a Despotic government.
First, Tocqueville emphasizes the importance of the “point of departure” for understanding a nation. To Tocqueville, it is important to study the origin of a nation to better understand the social conditions and laws. He emphasizes that America is the only great nation in which the origin can be studied, while analyzing the nature of the modern democracy. America has the furthest while maintaining a democratic social state of freedom with a high degree of equality. Tocqueville fears that the inevitable growth of equal conditions can be both a help and a hindrance to freedom. One