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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The people in a democracy instinctively acknowledge that the interest of the many is more valuable than that of whom?
(a) The monarchy.
(b) A privileged few.
(c) A small but active minority.
(d) The wealthy.

2. According to de Tocqueville, equality can enable what?
(a) Power.
(b) Hope.
(c) Knowledge.
(d) Freedom.

3. Instead of being driven by man, events--according to a democratic writer--are driven by what?
(a) Fate or sheer necessity.
(b) Providence or irresistible forces.
(c) Providence or sheer necessity.
(d) Fate or irresistable forces.

4. Democracy is a catalyst for what?
(a) Change.
(b) Material wealth.
(c) Industry.
(d) Economic growth.

5. Because of the generally accepted principle of equality among Americans, according to de Tocqueville they are less likely to accept what?
(a) Traditional ideas.
(b) Traditional reasoning.
(c) Historical logic.
(d) Historical evidence.

Short Answer Questions

1. In de Tocqueville's observations, aristocratic societies make countless _____________ available between man and God.

2. What type of people are educated and serve to bring reason to debates through logic?

3. According to de Tocqueville, the population of America is typically oblivious to the development of what?

4. What kind of impact does the American press have on its people?

5. In de Tocqueville's observations, the patriotism of Americans is more akin to cupidity than to what?

Short Essay Questions

1. On what single principle does democracy, as a political system, rely?

2. Americans want to explain everything through human intelligence and leave the rest to be explained by what, according to de Tocqueville?

3. What does equality among the people trigger, in addition to innovation, according to de Tocqueville?

4. Although religion remains out of the realm of politics according to de Tocqueville's observations, what political effect does religion have?

5. After the American Revolutionary war, the government defined, very precisely, the powers that belonged to whom?

6. What are some of the suggestions that equality makes to the beliefs of the American people?

7. According to de Tocqueville, why does the United States only produce journalistic literature?

8. Before the American Revolution, what were the two great political parties in the United States and what were their aims?

9. De Tocqueville believes that political parties are what to democratic societies?

10. Where does the American writer find poetry, according to de Tocqueville's observations?

(see the answer keys)

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