Master of American History and Government

Ashland University

AHG 510A:

Great American Texts: Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

Sunday, June 22 to Friday, June 27, 2008

Instructor: David Foster

Course Description:

Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America is the best study of America to be written by a foreigner. It examines government, religion, the races, private associations, literature, the family, and much else, all the while contrasting democratic America with old aristocratic Europe. This course will examine as much of the book as we can, focusing especially on Tocqueville's account of the love of equality (and its dangers) and his prescriptions for the preservation of liberty.

Learning Objectives:

This course has two main objectives: to read seriously a text that is important for understanding American history and government; to understand Tocqueville's reflections on democracy in America. More specifically, the course intends to improve students' familiarity with and understanding of:

• How to study thoroughly and comprehensively a complex book of social and political analysis.
• The main parts and overall thematic structure of Democracy in America.
• Tocqueville's analysis of the "social state" and government in America and of their interrelation.
• Tocqueville's analysis of human nature and of the effect on human beings (in their government, opinions, sentiments, and mores) of "equality of condition" and the love of equality. This will include the impact of equality on, among other things, the family, religion, ambition, literature, war, oratory.
• The concepts of the sovereignty of the people, administrative decentralization, tyranny of the majority, self-interest well understood, individualism, mild despotism.
• The contrast between American democracy and European aristocracy.
• Tocqueville's analysis of the advantages and dangers of democracy as it is found in America, and his suggestions for safeguarding liberty and strength of soul in conditions of equality.

Course Requirements:

A short seminar paper and a final examination. Grades will be assigned in the following way:

• Contribution to in-class discussions: 25%
• Seminar paper: 25% (This will be due during the week; instructions for it will be given in the first meeting of the course.)
• Final examination: 50%

Students auditing the course as a part of a Teaching American History Grant program must complete the readings and fully participate in the seminars during the week.

• Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, translated, edited, and with an introduction by Harvey C. Mansfield and Delba Winthrop. ISBN-13: 978-0226805368 (paperback); or ISBN-13: 978-0226805320 (hardcover)

Sunday, June 22

4:30 - 6:00pm: Introduction & Session 1

Readings:

• Vol. I, Introduction and part 1, chps 1-2 (pp. 3-45)
• Vol. I, part 2 beginning (p. 165)
• Vol. II, "Notice" (pp. 399-400)

7:30 - 9:00pm: Session 2 – Ashbrook Lecture (Attendance Required)

Monday, June 23

9:00 - 10:30am: Session 3

Readings:

• Vol I, part 1, chps 1-5 (pp. 19-93)

10:50am - 12:20pm: Session 4

Readings:

• Vol I, part 1, chps 6-8

4:30 - 6:00pm: Session 5

Readings:

• Vol I, part 2, chps 1-4

Tuesday, June 24

9:00 - 10:30am: Session 6

Readings:

• Vol I, part 2, chps 5-6

10:50am - 12:20pm: Session 7

Readings:

• Vol I, part 2, chps 7-8

4:30 - 6:00pm: Session 8

Readings:

• Vol I, part 2, chp 9

Wednesday, June 25

9:00 - 10:30am:
Session 9 – The Influence of Democracy on the Mind and Opinions

Readings:

• Vol. II, "Notice," and part 1, chapters 1-9 (pp. 399-433)

10:50am - 12:20pm:
Session 10 – The Influence of Democracy on the Mind and Opinions: The Sciences and Arts

Readings:

• Vol. II, part 1, chapters 10-17 (pp. 433-476)

4:30 - 6:00pm:
Session 11 – The Influence of Democracy on the Sentiments

Readings:

• Vol. II, part 2, chapters 1-9 (pp. 479-506)

Thursday, June 26

9:00 - 10:30am:
Session 12 – The Influence of Democracy on the Sentiments

Readings:

• Vol. II, part 2, chapters 10-20 (pp. 506-532)

10:50am - 12:20pm:
Session 13 – The Influence of Democracy on Mores: The Family

Readings:

• Vol. II, part 3, chapters 1-15 (pp. 535-584)

4:30 - 6:00pm:
Session 14 – The Influence of Democracy on Mores: Ambition and War in America

Readings:

• Vol. II, part 3, chapters 16-26 (pp. 585-635)

Friday, June 27

9:00 - 10:30am:
Session 15 – Tocqueville's Conclusion and Mild Despotism

Readings:

• Vol. II, part 4 (pp. 639-676)

10:50am - 12:20pm:
Session 16 – Session Review and General Discussion

1:30 - 3:00pm:
Session 17 – Final Examination