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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. According to de Tocqueville, comfort and other earthly pleasures are easily satisfied with what?
(a) Liberty.
(b) Material objects.
(c) Freedom.
(d) Wealth.

3. De Tocqueville believes that it depends on the individual whether equality leads them to knowledge or _______________.
(a) Boredom.
(b) Solitude.
(c) Barbarism.
(d) Ignorance.

4. "A priori" means what?
(a) The first knowledge.
(b) Knowledge without actual experience.
(c) Knowledge from first-hand experience.
(d) Knowledge derived from a moral source.

5. Democracy tightens social ties as it loosens what?
(a) Religious bonds.
(b) Moral bonds.
(c) Social bonds.
(d) Familial bonds.

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

7. The development of industry has led to an increase in what?
(a) Working mothers.
(b) Working poor.
(c) Repetitive tasks.
(d) Division of labor.

8. Democracy counters individualism by insuring that common good is understood as what?
(a) Profiting everyone who behaves as if he or she is free.
(b) Profiting everyone who participates in the process.
(c) Profiting everyone in the community.
(d) Profiting everyone who depends on each other.

9. In a traditional aristocracy, de Tocqueville believes that the aristocrat was linked to their underlings by what?
(a) Pride.
(b) Tradition.
(c) Duty.
(d) Custom.

10. What is one of the freedoms Americans have written into laws that will protect against democracy being oppression?
(a) Freedom of liberty.
(b) Freedom of economics.
(c) Freedom of the press.
(d) Freedom of privilege.

11. What does de Tocqueville define as a state of mental ease akin to physical and mental numbness?
(a) Ignorance.
(b) Comfort.
(c) Bliss.
(d) Mediocrity.

12. What requires years of hard and dedicated work before yielding a profit?
(a) Scholarly works.
(b) Writing.
(c) Investment.
(d) Agriculture.

13. According to de Tocqueville, total equality of people's condition would only be possible in a society where freedom is what?
(a) Liberty.
(b) Relative.
(c) Ideal.
(d) Absolute.

14. As democratic governments evolve, they have a tendency to become what?
(a) More decentralized.
(b) More despotic.
(c) More powerful.
(d) More centralized.

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What acts as a catalyst for the opinions and desires of the people?

3. The very poor and very rich are in what group in America?

4. Democratic countries do not want revolution or ______, in de Tocqueville's beliefs?

5. What produces goods and profits rapidly?

(see the answer keys)

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