Democracy in America--Tocqueville
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Reading and Writing Workshop
Understanding Democracy Through Tocqueville
Overview
This workshop uses Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America as a central text to explore the foundations, strengths, weaknesses, and future of democratic societies. Students will read key excerpts, analyze themes, and connect Tocqueville’s observations to contemporary issues through structured writing and discussion.
Session 1: Introduction to Tocqueville and the American Experiment
Objective: Understand the purpose and historical context of Tocqueville’s journey and work.
Reading:
Session 2: The Role of Equality in Democratic Societies
Objective: Explore Tocqueville’s analysis of equality as a driving force in America.
Reading:
Session 3: American Individualism
Objective: Investigate Tocqueville’s concern with the tension between individualism and community.
Reading:
Session 4: Religion and Democracy
Objective: Understand Tocqueville’s view of religion as a stabilizing force in American democracy.
Reading:
Session 5: The Tyranny of the Majority
Objective: Examine Tocqueville’s warning about majority rule overpowering minority rights.
Reading:
Session 6: Civic Associations and the Art of Cooperation
Objective: Analyze Tocqueville’s praise for voluntary associations in American public life.
Reading:
Session 7: Democracy and the Press
Objective: Evaluate Tocqueville’s view of the press as both essential and problematic.
Reading:
Session 8: Democratic Despotism and the Future of Liberty
Objective: Reflect on Tocqueville’s foresight about democracy’s vulnerabilities.
Reading:
Session 9: Final Writing Project and Seminar
Objective: Synthesize understanding of Tocqueville’s themes in a final essay and group discussion.
Options for Final Essay:
Overview
This workshop uses Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America as a central text to explore the foundations, strengths, weaknesses, and future of democratic societies. Students will read key excerpts, analyze themes, and connect Tocqueville’s observations to contemporary issues through structured writing and discussion.
Session 1: Introduction to Tocqueville and the American Experiment
Objective: Understand the purpose and historical context of Tocqueville’s journey and work.
Reading:
- Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Introduction
- Discuss why Tocqueville came to America.
- Short write: What would a European visitor observe about American democracy today?
Session 2: The Role of Equality in Democratic Societies
Objective: Explore Tocqueville’s analysis of equality as a driving force in America.
Reading:
- Democracy in America, Volume 1, Part 1, Chapter 3: "Social Conditions of the Anglo-Americans"
- Analyze Tocqueville’s insights on equality vs. liberty.
- Write a response: Is equality more important than liberty in a democracy?
Session 3: American Individualism
Objective: Investigate Tocqueville’s concern with the tension between individualism and community.
Reading:
- Democracy in America, Volume 2, Part 2, Chapter 2: "Of Individualism in Democratic Countries"
- Discuss examples of individualism in modern American life.
- Journal entry: When does individualism strengthen or weaken democracy?
Session 4: Religion and Democracy
Objective: Understand Tocqueville’s view of religion as a stabilizing force in American democracy.
Reading:
- Democracy in America, Volume 1, Part 2, Chapter 9: "Religion in the United States"
- Compare Tocqueville’s view of religion with today’s debates on religion and politics.
- Write a persuasive paragraph: Should religion play a role in democracy?
Session 5: The Tyranny of the Majority
Objective: Examine Tocqueville’s warning about majority rule overpowering minority rights.
Reading:
- Democracy in America, Volume 1, Part 2, Chapter 7: "Tyranny of the Majority"
- Discuss examples of majority rule in conflict with minority rights.
- Argument writing: How can modern democracies guard against the tyranny of the majority?
Session 6: Civic Associations and the Art of Cooperation
Objective: Analyze Tocqueville’s praise for voluntary associations in American public life.
Reading:
- Democracy in America, Volume 2, Part 2, Chapter 5: "Of the Use Which the Americans Make of Public Associations in Civil Life"
- Case study: Examine a local nonprofit or civic association.
- Group write: How can associations help preserve democracy today?
Session 7: Democracy and the Press
Objective: Evaluate Tocqueville’s view of the press as both essential and problematic.
Reading:
- Democracy in America, Volume 1, Part 2, Chapter 3: "Freedom of the Press"
- Compare 19th-century press concerns with today’s digital media challenges.
- Write an editorial: What is the press’s role in defending democracy?
Session 8: Democratic Despotism and the Future of Liberty
Objective: Reflect on Tocqueville’s foresight about democracy’s vulnerabilities.
Reading:
- Democracy in America, Volume 2, Part 4, Chapter 6: "What Sort of Despotism Democratic Nations Have to Fear"
- Discuss the idea of “soft despotism.”
- Synthesis writing: What modern threats to liberty echo Tocqueville’s concerns?
Session 9: Final Writing Project and Seminar
Objective: Synthesize understanding of Tocqueville’s themes in a final essay and group discussion.
Options for Final Essay:
- Compare Tocqueville’s vision of democracy with modern democratic challenges.
- Evaluate one of Tocqueville’s core concerns—individualism, the press, associations, or equality—today.
- Students present and discuss their arguments with peers.