Quick Facts

• Born on July 29 1805
• Served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for less than 5 months
• Made famous travels to the United States, England, and Algeria
• Died on April 16 1859

Life and Work

A member of the french aristocracy, Tocqueville found himself in a place that did not express the views that he held dear. Ultimately it was the regime he despised, the July Monarchy, that granted him permission to visit the United States which gave him the observations he needed to write Democracy in America, which he did in two volumes. The first of which being published in 1835 and the second in 1840.

Selected Work by Author

Democracy in America (1835/1840)

Selected Quote from the Work

"Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom."

Referenced Sources

Seminar Slideshow on Tocqueville

“Alexis de Tocqueville.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Apr. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_de_Tocqueville.