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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 alone, according to de Tocqueville, is not a strong enough criterion to elevate an individual over the others?

2. What does de Tocqueville see as the primary danger of democracy?

3. According to de Tocqueville, total equality of people's condition would only be possible in a society where freedom is what?

4. What does de Tocqueville maintain as a greater threat than anarchy?

5. Democracy tightens social ties as it loosens what?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to de Tocqueville, within their own country, how do Americans tend to behave toward each other?

2. When the people feel more equal, what are some other side effects?

3. What does the lack of rigidity in a family relationship in a democratic society allow the family to do, according to de Tocqueville?

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

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

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

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

8. What is one of the civil effects of the American society?

9. 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?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using examples from the book, where does authority originate from in America as opposed to in an aristocratic regimen? How does this influence the structure and behavior of a democracy as compared to an aristocracy?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

What is de Tocqueville's definition of a lawyer? How does a lawyer work to help secure a democracy, in de Tocqueville's view? Does the same definition and purpose apply to lawyers today? Why or why not? Cite examples from the book and present day to support your answer.

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This section contains 643 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample