Alexis de Tocqueville

For other uses, see Tocqueville (disambiguation)

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Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville (b. July 29, 1805 in Paris – April 16, 1859) was a French political thinker and historian. His most famous works are Democracy in America (appearing in two volumes: 1835 and 1840) and The Old Regime and the Revolution (1856). He championed liberty and democracy. Alexis de Tocqueville once observed that it is easier for the world to accept a simple lie than a complex truth.

Related Topics:
July 29 - 1805 - April 16 - 1859 - French - Political thinker - Historian - Democracy in America - 1835 - 1840 - The Old Regime and the Revolution - 1856 - Liberty - Democracy

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He was born in Verneuil-sur-Seine (Île-de-France) and died in Cannes. His work based on his travels in the United States, Democracy in America, is frequently used in courses in 19th century United States history. His advocacy of private charity rather than government aid to assist the poor has often been cited admiringly by conservatives and classical liberals, particularly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

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Île-de-France - Cannes - United States - 19th century - Conservative - Classical liberal

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Tocqueville is a major observer and philosopher of democracy, which he saw as an equation that balanced liberty and equality, concern for the individual as well as the community. He thought that extreme social equality would lead to isolation, more intervention by the government and thus less liberty. Alexis de Tocqueville thought that association, the coming together of people for common purpose, would bind Americans to an idea of nation larger than selfish desires. This phenomenon is called civil society. He accurately predicted that democracy would increase and eventually extend its rights and privileges to women, Natives, and Africans. He is thus also a political progressive, concerned with improving the lives of all citizens.

Related Topics:
Association - Civil society - Progressive

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