About Democracy in America

By Alexis Henri Charles Maurice Clerel de Tocqueville

Published in 1836

Second Edition of the first part in two volumes, with original fold out map. Alexis de Tocqueville’s classic work, “Democracy in America,” was published in two parts, the first published in 1835 and the second published in 1840; the present work was published in 1836. “Democracy in America” was a result of de Tocqueville and Gustave de Beaumont’s 1831-1832 tour of the United States, which was commissioned by the French Government to study the American prison system. The first part is an examination of American social and political institutions and practices. The second part considers that democracy could be the foundation of a stable political system. Upon its publication, “Democracy in America” was immediately popular in both Europe and the United States. The work is often acclaimed for making numerous accurate predictions, which include: the anticipation of potential hostility over the abolition of slavery, leading to the American Civil War; and the rivalry between the United States and Russia, which produced the Cold War. “Democracy in America” has become a classic work in political science, social science, and history. It is commonly assigned for reading as course work in class at colleges and universities, particularly in United States.