History Commons^™

The Masterless Society: Observations On American Democracy By Alexis De Tocqueville, James Tyrie Jr.

Government theses

French political theorist Alexis de Tocqueville’s views concerning American democracy were examined in order to discern key aspects of democratic thought and practice in America. Tocqueville found certain fundamental premises such as individual freedom and “equality of conditions” at the base of democracy in America. From these basic premises come several paradoxical results, namely the masterless society, economic materialism and “tyranny of the majority.” These paradoxes are controlled by safeguards of associations, the press and the judiciary within the system. It was found that Tocqueville’s detachment and foresight give his thought greater meaning than that of many contemporary social and …

Ua68/8/3 The Student Researcher, Vol. Iii, No. I, Phi Alpha Theta

Student Organizations

Publication of the Eta-Pi Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta. This issue includes:

• Bussell, Judy. The Women's Suffrage Movement: 1870-1900
• Davenport, Beverly. RFK and Civil Rights "1961: It Had Only Just Begun"
• Kellems, Brady. The Election Dispute of 1876
• Lega, Mark. A.J.P. Taylor: Gadfly Historian
• Tatum, Raymond. The Hartford Convention: Those "Wise Men of the East"