The American Dream Abroad
Introduction
Since the Pilgrims emigrated from England in 1620, America has represented a place of freedom and financial gain. While the Separatists fled to the New World for religious acceptance, cultural identity, and civil autonomy, merchant investors in the Virginia Company of London looked to make a profit on exploration and newly found territory. Both groups saw the potential for expansion and wealth; the untouched land offered fulfillment financially and spiritually. As the pilgrims sought to spread their church doctrine and populate their faith, the merchants sought new ways to fill their monetary coffers. The New World symbolized a new life, nearly free from tyranny.
But the dream built on American democracy has inspired mixed emotions, from admiration to distrust. In 1833, Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America, a study of why the republican representative democracy in America is successful. In the book, he discusses why this particular form of government fails elsewhere, including in his home country, and hypothesizes about the future of American democracy. Though Tocqueville mused on what worked about the system, he also pointed out possible dangers, including the tyranny of majority. But ultimately, Tocqueville recognized the potential for America to one day become a global force of power.
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