Alexis de Tocqueville was a citizen of France, sent to

observe American prisons, by the French

government in the 1830s. While in America, he
began a journal, commenting on the
exceptionalism of America and its citizens.
He focused on five characteristics: Liberty, Equality,
Individualism, Popular Sovereignty, and Laissez
Faire.
Our class assignment was to select an era of
American history, after the Civil War, and look at it
through de Tocqueville's eyes.
View of America

Roaring 20s
1920-1929
I selected this era due to the enormous amount of life
and growing popularity of music, jazz, and dance.
Era Selected

According to de Tocqueville, liberty meant that there
was protection against any sort of tyrannical
government. American was founded on the bases of
a religion and this base helped strengthen the
individual beliefs of the people.
During the Roaring 20s, the American people were
not so worried about a tyrannical government; they
were more worried about monopolies and captions
of industry. These people were so focused on the
parties and the feel good vibes of the after-war,
they were not so focused government.
Liberty


According to de Tocqueville, equality meant that
there were no separation of classes. Europe was
structured by the cast-system; when one was born
into a certain class, that person could not move up in
class. In America, there was no set structure.
During this time, there were many opportunities in
cities to find jobs and create a life for themselves. It
was very possible for a person to come to a big city
and become apart of a big cooperation and build a
nice life for themselves.
Equality


According to de Tocqueville, individualism meant that
Americans were free to flourish without having to worry
about discrimination of their heritage. Americans were
also living the American Dream meaning any person
could become anything they wanted to be.
In the Roaring 20s, flappers made their statement in
American society. Women began wearing shorter dresses
and participating in same social activities as men, such as
smoking and drinking. Flappers changed the way
American society viewed women and is still effective
today.
Individualism


De Tocqueville viewed populism as including
common people in political life, such as voting.
Leading up to the 1920s, the political idea of popular
sovereignty grew which allowed for more peoples
participation in American politics.

Popular Sovereignty


De Tocquevilles view of laissez faire was that the
government was hands-off of the economy,
allowing money and small businesses to flourish.
During the 1920s, Americans experienced a great
deal of liberation from government being apart of
everything. Laissez faire was a big part of the 20s
and could have possibly been the reason for the
stock market crash due to the banks not being
regulated.
Laissez Faire


In America the majority raises
formidable barriers around the
liberty of opinion; within these
barriers an authors may write what
he pleases, but woe to him if he goes
beyond them.
Alexis de Tocqueville
My interpretation:
The American people created the
freedom of speech that they
desired. This allowed authors,
poets, and musicians to voice their
opinions about their beliefs. With
this, these writers also realize that if
they step outside of their barriers, it
could result in consequences by the
government. As a society, these
people that go past the barriers that
have been placed are praised for
taking that extra step and risk to
voice their beliefs.
De Tocqueville Quote

If Alexis de Tocqueville was alive today, his views on America would
not have changed as much as his views when he was alive. America
still has the five views-liberty, equality, individualism, popular
sovereignty, and laissez-faire- but each views have changed slightly.
Laissez faire has been diminished and government has had a slightly
bigger hand on everything in this society. He would have been
amazed how equality has flourished greatly among our society;
womens right, civil rights movements, and same-sex marriages.
Popular Sovereignty has increased by allowing ALL men to put their
vote towards political decisions. America has done a pretty good job
and sustaining these views that America was founded on, although if
de Tocqueville was alive in the modern world, he would be very
surprised at the way Americans have interpreted these views and
made them their own.
My thoughts on de
Tocquevilles views