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. What type of regime does de Tocqueville believe is more oppressive than a dictatorship?
(a) A tyrannical monarchy.
(b) A tyrannical democracy.
(c) A despotic democracy.
(d) A despotic monarchy.

2. One drawback of equality of social conditions is an increase in what?
(a) Knowledge.
(b) Freedom.
(c) Individualism.
(d) Association.

3. What does de Tocqeville say is linked to--but not the same as--liberty?
(a) Idealism.
(b) Freedom.
(c) Equality.
(d) Democracy.

4. American people get richer through peaceful trading and manufacturing instead of what?
(a) Pirating.
(b) Theft.
(c) War.
(d) Conquest.

5. Civil associations are often born out of what?
(a) Multi-state political associations.
(b) National political associations.
(c) State-level political associations.
(d) Local political associations.

Short Answer Questions

1. What general attitude does de Tocqueville purport that Americans have towards each other?

2. "A priori" means what?

3. The tendency of Americans to behave differently towards outsiders is sometimes known as what?

4. According to de Tocqueville, in contrast to the traditional aristocracy, the American aristocracy has no direct effect on the _______ of its class members.

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What is at least one difference between the family in a democratic society and in an aristocratic society?

2. Why will democratic governments tend to centralize as they grow?

3. What is one reason that democracies do not value equality and liberty equally?

4. How is the division of labor in the industries in the United States divided?

5. What do rising wages for workers mean?

6. Why does the military, even in a democratic society, tend to seek war?

7. How do the citizens of America see their equality when it comes to work collectively, according to de Tocqueville's observations?

8. In what situation would total equality of the people's condition be possible?

9. What two concepts, though linked, should not be confounded?

10. What is the major difference between the classic aristocrat and the new aristocrat in America according to de Tocqueville?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 565 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample