View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. In de Tocqueville's observations, compared to European legislation, American legislation is what?
(a) Ineffective.
(b) Inefficient.
(c) Unclear.
(d) Complicated.

3. When can a judge refuse to enforce a law?
(a) When they do not like the law.
(b) When the people they are representing do not like the law.
(c) When the law in unconstitutional.
(d) When they do not agree with the law.

4. On what type of sovereignty does democracy rely?
(a) Minority.
(b) Partial.
(c) Absolute.
(d) Majority.

5. To an American writer, the individuals and events are related how?
(a) They rely on each other.
(b) They are interrelated, although not dependent on each other.
(c) They are dependent on each other.
(d) They are independent of each other.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is one of the two important tools of American democracy?

2. About what does de Tocqueville believe aristocrats are busy writing?

3. Freedom of the press is described as what type of weapon?

4. Power is divided between what two entities in the United States?

5. After what event was the sovereignty of the people codified in law?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. According to de Tocqueville, in a democracy, the people take special interest in the affairs of the government for what reason?

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

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

5. According to the author, what is the reason free people obey laws?

6. Why, according to de Tocqueville, does the American writer write?

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

8. What is one of the drawbacks to de Tocqueville's view of the American approach to literature and poetry?

9. What is the unusual political power, based on the Constitution, that the American judicial system holds?

10. De Tocqueville believes that religion provides what to Americans?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 560 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample