Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II by Alexis de Tocqueville

5 out of 5 stars  *****

Volume II 

Tocqueville observes the American growth in art, agriculture, trade, expansion, and politics. Andrew Jackson is president at this time and the North and South are divided on the issue of slavery. Morality from the Northern manufacturers and mariners threatens the livelihoods of the Southern plantation owners who have rationalized slavery to fit their desires. The author has serious doubts about these two factions reconciling their differences. 

Tocqueville admires American women for the respect they have for themselves, their savvy social interaction, and the ease with which they express their faith living in the world based on their own terms. They are industrious, as are most Americans. 

Unlike Europe, art is not appreciated for the art, itself; rather, Americans appreciate art that is useful and practical. Education differs also in that there is not an upper or royal class in young America. Europe teaches its royalty in the finer aspects of life without guilt or shame. Royalty is not expected to work at all; rather, its life of leisure is spent refining manners and language that separate them from the working class. Americans take great pride in their work and educate their offspring to do the same, as the Bible teaches.

Tocqueville observes that even though particular states may differ socially and politically, they are all united in their love of freedom as outlined in their two famous documents, the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. This Volume II of Democracy in America contains the actual words of that Declaration of Independence. The author knows that mere words cannot create a thriving country where its citizens live in harmony, despite the slavery issue. 

American principles do not produce the same results in other countries who model their governments off of America; Mexico, for example. Tocqueville is astute in pointing out who, exactly, make up these two governments. It is not in the government design but in the people, themselves. 

Mexico is settled by conquistadors on a quest for riches. America has some of those opportunists in its history but is mainly settled by people looking for a place to practice their religion in peace. Never before is there such an opportunity for adventurous, persecuted, religious people to find their way across a wide ocean and into a raw, rich, promising nation that offers freedom and liberties at a price of forbearance they are all willing to endure. 

Tocqueville does a thorough job explaining the intangible shared qualities necessary for America to prosper, at all. The remarkable rise of America and the unity among its population in areas of significance is what brings Alexis Tocqueville to America in the first place.