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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Because of equality, Americans share similar education and what?
(a) Initial abilities.
(b) Initial wealth.
(c) Initial strength.
(d) Initial conditions.

2. The tendency of people to implement equality first in the hope that freedom will follow is a what?
(a) Political ideal.
(b) Political ideology.
(c) Political reflex.
(d) Political truism.

3. In America, what type of rank cannot be distinguished immediately?
(a) Societal rank.
(b) Military rank.
(c) Economic rank.
(d) Political rank.

4. What arm of the government, even in a democracy, tends to seek out war in de Tocqueville's observations?
(a) Executive branch.
(b) Political elite.
(c) Legislative branch.
(d) Military.

5. What is one of the checks and balances on the executive branch to prevent it from becoming despotic?
(a) An independent judiciary.
(b) An independent press.
(c) An independent moral system.
(d) An independent education system.

6. De Tocqueville believes that revolutions are generally the result of the people's desire to eliminate what?
(a) Restraints on freedom.
(b) Excesses of the governing class.
(c) Restraints on liberty.
(d) Inequalities.

7. What is the main difference between a democratic tyranny and a monarchical tyranny?
(a) A democratic tyranny is a tyranny of one.
(b) A democratic tyranny is a tyranny of the majority.
(c) A democratic tyranny is more difficult to counter.
(d) A democratic tyranny is harder to diagnose.

8. Decentralization of the governmental administration has multiplied what?
(a) Newspapers.
(b) Opinions.
(c) Political associations.
(d) Journalists.

9. The institutions of the United States tend to bring together what type of people?
(a) People of all ranks.
(b) People of aristocratic rank.
(c) The political elite.
(d) The scholarly people.

10. Political associations exist at the national level and are most effective at what level?
(a) The township level.
(b) The local level.
(c) The national level.
(d) The state level.

11. What alone, according to de Tocqueville, is not a strong enough criterion to elevate an individual over the others?
(a) Intelligence.
(b) Ability.
(c) Wealth.
(d) Strength.

12. The threat of a despotic government is greater in democratic societies because the power of the government is what, according to de Tocqueville?
(a) Absolute.
(b) Unlimited.
(c) Almost unlimited.
(d) Unchecked.

13. Equality of conditions means there are no a priori what in America?
(a) Ideas.
(b) Prejudices.
(c) Points of view.
(d) Influences.

14. De Tocqueville believes that the nations of his time cannot prevent the conditions of men from becoming _________________.
(a) Different.
(b) Similar.
(c) Varied.
(d) Equal.

15. The very poor and very rich are in what group in America?
(a) The industrious.
(b) The farmers.
(c) The majority.
(d) The minority.

Short Answer Questions

1. In de Tocqueville's beliefs, what is the surest and fastest way to destroy liberty?

2. What requires years of hard and dedicated work before yielding a profit?

3. The desire for immediate gratification led the people of America to what?

4. The small variations in manners between Americans and others are interpreted, by Americans, as an expression of what?

5. According to De Tocqueville, all Americans seek it, but do not necessarily seek it exclusively. What is it?

(see the answer keys)

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