Tocqueville's Democracy in America

Alexis de Tocqueville?s novel Democracy in America touched on many topics having to do with democracy, not in the United States, but also in his home of France, as well as England. His views were established during his stay in the United States. Tocqueville made a number of references about the political activity in the United States. He did this ranging from the courts to the executive branch. Henry David Thoreau touched on many of the same topics as Tocqueville. They both believe in the motto of that government is best which governs least. In all honesty, I also agree with that saying. For a government that has less control of the people, leaves the individual feeling much more independent, as we were meant to be. Thoreau?s Civil Disobedience focuses on the negative aspect of the government. He talks of the importance of the individual in society. In my opinion, government is necessary, but not needed as much as it is perceived to be. What is needed are laws, not just those natural laws; but those that keep the majority of society as honest as possible.

The government has the power to be abused by those that run it, before the people are able to act through it. According to Thoreau the rule of government places constraints upon the individual?s rights. Thoreau feels that government shows how easy it is for men to be ruled successfully, even by themselves. There have been a number of incidents in the history of the United States where the government has come in the way of the individual. Thoreau feels as though there is no need for government and laws. This is because the federal government is ruled by the elite majority, and is not based upon justice. Thoreau was very adamant about his beliefs about the government taking away the rights of the individual. He feels that we will not be truly free with government ruling as it has been.

?There will never be a really free and enlightened state until the state comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly.? (Thoreau, Civil Disobedience) This is due to the fact that the government does not always recognize the individual as being human. Those that run the government look at those that they govern as subjects.

Thoreau looks at the government and its laws as the majority forcing their rules upon individuals who were not meant to be governed in that manner. We were placed on this Earth with natural laws, and the laws of man are not necessary. He has been stated as saying that he "was not born to be forced." That is what those laws that are placed upon individuals in the United States are doing, for example, forcing us to pay taxes to the government. These laws are made for individuals to conform to what the government sees fit. Thoreau feels that the individual is to follow the natural order that they were meant to follow, and he feels that, ?if man cannot live according to nature he dies.? Individuals should be allowed to follow their own natural laws.

Tocqueville on the other hand viewed the government as a little more necessary than Thoreau. It is true that he too feels that government is better if it governs the governed less, yet at the same time he somewhat embraces the government of the United States.

?The external relations of a people may be compared to those of private individuals, and they cannot be advantageously maintained without the agency of a single head of a government.? (Tocqueville, Democracy in America) Apparently, he feels that government is needed in many aspects of the lives of the people whom it governs. There is a need for government to establish the armed forces, and the police. The fact the government was slowly gaining more power that it was meant to have over them as individual was not felt at the initial time. The reign in which the government had appeared to be in the good intentions of the people.

According to Tocqueville, the federal government of the United States should be an example to other nation-states in the world. He states that the Constitution is not the best, but, ?the political institutions of the United States appear to me to be one of the forms of government which a democracy may adopt.? He feels that the laws created by the government is in the benefit of the masses. Those that run the government do so for the betterment of society. This is because the individual cannot do so themselves without error. The minority cannot handle for themselves that which the government handles. Tocqueville believes that there are a number of advantages of the government. If society was as organized by nature, as Thoreau believed, there would be no need for the government to govern. Tocqueville believes that is a fantasy, and cannot come into being.

In conclusion, both Thoreau and Tocqueville agree that government should not govern as much as it does. The disagreement arises when it comes to just how much. Thoreau feels that ?government is best which governs not at all.? While Tocqueville feels that ?government is best that governs least, and is necessary.? I come to the realization that government is a little necessary to a point, as well as individuals should have the right to govern themselves. They should be able to make up their own mind.