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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. Repetitive tasks give workers an inability to change what?

2. Political associations bring together whom?

3. According to de Tocqueville, too much emphasis on equality leads to what?

4. Compared to aristocratic countries, there is a tendency to do what to workers' wages in democratic countries?

5. Civil associations are often born out of what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the only great inequality that de Tocqueville sees in American society?

2. According to de Tocqueville, what political instinct have the American people developed that will counter their natural tendency towards equality?

3. Why are democratic societies less likely to wage war?

4. In de Tocqueville's observations, how do Americans act when they meet with strangers outside their borders?

5. What do rising wages for workers mean?

6. What is one of the problems of equality of conditions?

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

8. As men seeking equality become more alike, what is one possibility for a type of tyrannical regime in a democratic society, according to de Tocqueville?

9. What is at least one thing that led America to develop industry instead of agriculture?

10. According to de Tocqueville, how do political associations combat individualism and egoism?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using examples from the book, what are the differences between an aristocratic regime and a democratic regime in terms of governance? Which one does de Tocqueville think is more effective at governing and why?

Essay Topic 2

De Tocqueville presents many ways in which a democracy can protect itself from abuse. Why does de Tocqueville believe that a democracy will be abused, and what does he suggest as protection from that abuse? Use examples from the book to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

What is the definition that de Tocqueville uses for freedom of the press? Using examples from the book, what role does freedom of the press have in a democracy? What role does it have in American democracy?

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