Alexis de Tocqueville – Democracy in America, vol. 1
Chapter XVII – “Causes Which Tend to Maintain Democracy”
Write an analysis about the causes Tocqueville identifies which have maintained a
democracy in America. In your analysis, consider the following questions:
1. What are the causes Tocqueville identifies?
2. What are the effects of those causes on American democracy?
3. Are Tocqueville’s hypotheses (cause and effect) valid; that is, does he supply
evidence to support his claims?
4. Tocqueville states “general causes”, but are they “causes” or do you think they are
“correlations”?

Analysis should be between 500 to 750 words, single-spaced, no footnotes or bibliography.
Note: This is a long chapter, and Tocqueville may be hard to understand. His major points are
clear so focus on those and do not get lost in details you do not understand.

The causes that Tocqueville identifies that maintained democracy in America

Tocqueville identifies three reasons that have sustained democracy among the American people. These three reasons include geographic location, manners, and legislation. The manners of the American people are one of the critical factors that have continued to maintain democracy in America. According to Tocqueville manners tend to influence prosperity and order that is distinguishable among Anglo-American democracies. Secondly, the geographical position enables the federal system, an aspect of a democratic state to be maintained and this results indirectly from the customs and manners of inhabitants.

Effects of identified causes on democracy

The three causes that Tocqueville identifies, legislation, geographic location, and manners, affect democracy in different ways. Legislation and manners work together in influencing democracy as far as enforcement of strict measures is concerned. Democracy being a political state requires regulation and this is made possible through the manners of the people and the legislative practices they follow. As far as Tocqueville is concerned, regulation is made possible through the assistance of manners and legislation. On the other hand, legislation has further served to strengthen democracy by strengthening institutions such as federal states to put into practice the demands of democracy.

Are Tocqueville’s hypotheses valid?

Tocqueville’s hypotheses about the factors that maintain democracy in America are valid because he provides the experiences of different countries based on the explanations that he offers in the article. In this regard, he provides evidence that seems to support the claims he makes. For instance, Tocqueville gives the example of Mexico in explaining why laws and physical circumstances are not enough in sustaining democracy. Tocqueville states that Mexico has been unable to get accustomed to democracy even with the same laws. As a result, Tocqueville justifies this claim by using the case study of Mexico as an example. In addition, Tocqueville refers to regions and groups of people such as eastern states in providing a strong claim about the effect of habits on democracy.

Tocqueville states ‘general causes’, but are they causes or correlations

Tocqueville looks at the three reasons that lead to the maintenance of democracy. These references by Tocqueville are more of correlations than general causes. Tocqueville gives correlations between legislation, geographic location, and manners in view of how they ultimately cause America to continue being a democratic state. For instance, Tocqueville offers a relationship between the three factors that aid in sustaining democracy among the American people. For instance, Tocqueville suggests that manners and legislation work together towards bringing about democracy. The article points towards the fact that in the absence of manners necessary to adhere to the laid down laws, it would not be possible for the laid down laws to be followed by the people concerned. On the other hand, in the event that the aspect of geographical location misses, the laws and manners may not be enough alone. As a result, Tocqueville has been able to show the correlation between legislation, geographic location, and manners.