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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What reason does de Tocqueville supply for what Americans read, other than to stay informed?

2. To a democratic writer, truth cannot emanate from a human simply because the human does what?

3. What is one of the best safeguards against potential tyranny of the majority in America?

4. The American historian holds individuals accountable for what?

5. According to de Tocqueville, freedom cannot be what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the minority recognize the decision and rights of the majority in America, according to de Tocqueville's observations?

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

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

4. What is the definition of a regime?

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

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

7. What laws prevailed as the basis of the developing democratic society in the United States?

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

9. Why does de Tocqueville believe that freedom of opinion is practically non-existent in the United States?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the following ideas as de Tocqueville uses them in his explanation and exploration of democracy:

i. servitude and individuality

ii. despotism and tyranny

iii. oppression and freedom.

Essay Topic 2

How does democracy promote simplification? How does democracy promote complexities? What are the consequences of each? Use the book to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Why is de Tocqueville writing this book, and for whom is he writing the book? Of what is he trying to convince his audience? Support your answer with examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

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