The idea of equality of conditions was extolled by Alexis de Tocqueville, a French diplomat who was commissioned by the French government to observe and study the conditions of the American prison system, but in reality, he was sent to observe and document the changes that were observed within the American society. He also describes the physical and moral separation of races and the conditions of the slaves in the United States, where they were only utilized in economic production, but considered legally inferior to Native citizens.
Further Explanation:
Tocqueville’s description of social change in America does not take into account the conditions of slaves, for they were not a part of the social hierarchy that would be a cause for historical examination. He observes the massive changes in the structure of American society over a seven-hundred-year period. The status of equality was granted to all men, and the privilege of the aristocracy was being wiped away from the social structure. The common man was now at the forefront of social hierarchy, filling the positions of clergymen, or gaining a considerable profitable rise in society by means of wealth gathered from successful commercial and mercantile ventures. The main themes of the book revolve around exploring the nature of democracy in America, brought about by Puritan ideals of equal access to educational properties. He observes a relation between political ideology and religion that was highly uncommon in Europe. A Federal majority, which meant that the majority will of the people chose their representatives, patriarchal family structure and the question of women inheriting their fathers’ properties formed the main themes of the book.
Learn more:
1. During the 1925 scopes trial, the prosecution’s main argument was that?
2. Which statement accurately describes china after the civil war?
3. Which of these was one of the few successes of the united states government under the articles of confederation?
Answer Details:
Grade: High School, Graduation.
Chapter: the United States before the Civil War.
Subject: History.
Keywords: separation of races, slavery, aristocracy, equality of common man. Puritan ideals, Federal majority, patriarchal family.
