Intro
“Among the new objects that attracted my attention during my stay in the United States, none struck my eye more vividly than the ______ of conditions.
Equality
This chapter is about the utility of knowing the point of
Departure
“When one wants to speak of the political laws of the United States, it is always with the ______ of the sovereignty of the people that one must begin.”
Dogma
“According to Alexis de Tocqueville, why do people in democratic societies tend to value equality more strongly than liberty?”
a strong desire for equality of conditions, because people see themselves as socially similar and compare themselves constantly with others.
Or
Equality affects everyday life whereas liberty calls for more effort
pp 479-480
Why do people prefer the benefits of equality over the benefits of liberty?
The perks of equality are felt immediately and at all times by everyone, while the perks of liberty take a long time to show up and require hard work.
Tocqueville looks at France from a perspective of how many years ago?
700 years
“The bond of _______ is perhaps the strongest and most lasting that can unite men.”
Language
“_______ is one of the terms that intriguers in all times and despots in all ages have most largely abused.”
national will
“How does Tocqueville explain the different emotional appeals of equality and liberty in democratic societies?
Equality’s benefits are visible; liberty requires effort.
Why is it harder to notice the dangers of equality compared to the dangers of inequality?
The dangers of liberty are loud and obvious. The dangers of equality happen so gradually that people barely notice until its too late.
What did the nobles do sometimes when they were struggling against royal authority or trying to take power from their rivals?
Gave political power to their people
Q: This code of laws deemed as one of the most characteristic memorials in the United States during Tocqueville's time
The laws passed by Connecticut in 1650
What does Tocqueville say is contrary to the well being and freedom of men?
Tocqueville says that great empires are contrary to the freedom of men.
pp 151
Why might the desire for equality lead people to accept limits on their freedom?
People accept authority to maintain equal conditions.
DAILY DOUBLE
Tocqueville says equality actually creates two very different paths for society. What are they?
One path leads to independence (chaos or anarchy). The other leads secretly to a massive, controlling government (servitude).
“Society is tranquil not because it is conscious of its force and well being, but on the contrary, because it believes itself to be _________”
Weak and infirm
In what kinds of regions of society in European nations did political existence begin?
In the higher regions
Tocqueville states that a false idea that is clear and precise will influence people more than one that is true but complex.
True
Pp 155
Why do individuals in democratic societies rely on the opinions of the majority?
Equality weakens traditional authorities, so people trust the majority’s judgment.
pp 426-428
Which of these two dangers (anarchy and servitude) are people more likely to notice and fear?
People easily see the chaos of anarchy and fight against it, but they don't notice themselves sliding into servitude under a powerful government.
True or False: Tocqueville believed that as soon as property and transferable wealth was introduced, that discoveries in the arts could not be made or improvements in
True
Open ended: How does Tocqueville feel about the structure of the government in Europe, compared to the structure of the government in America?
Up to judges :)
Open ended: What topic stuck out to you the most in these two chapters?
Up to judges :)
How can majority opinion affect independent thinking in democratic societies?
Majority opinion pressures individuals, discouraging independent thought and originality.
pp 426-428
If equality naturally gives us a “taste” for freedom, but also makes us love equality more than freedom, how do Americans actually resolve this tension so that they don’t lose their liberty?
Americans resolve this through things like local government (the township), juries, and associations.