Tocqueville on America after 1840
Letters and Other Writings

Tocqueville on America after 1840 provides access to Tocqueville's views on American politics from 1840 to 1859, revealing his shift in thinking and growing disenchantment with America.

Aurelian Craiutu (Edited and translated by), Jeremy Jennings (Edited and translated by)

9780521676830, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 30 March 2009

576 pages
22.7 x 15.2 x 4 cm, 0.78 kg

'… incisive and important … Altogether this is a valuable and much needed collection that will deepen as well as widen our understanding of Tocqueville's contribution to political philosophy.' Contemporary Review

Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America has been recognized as an indispensable starting point for understanding American politics. From the publication of the second volume in 1840 until his death in 1859, Tocqueville continued to monitor political developments in America and committed many of his thoughts to paper in letters to his friends in America. He also made frequent references to America in many articles and speeches. Did Tocqueville change his views on America outlined in the two volumes of Democracy in America published in 1835 and 1840? If so, which of his views changed and why? The texts translated in Tocqueville on America after 1840: Letters and Other Writings answer these questions and offer English-speaking readers the possibility of familiarizing themselves with this unduly neglected part of Tocqueville's work. The book points out a clear shift in emphasis especially after 1852 and documents Tocqueville's growing disenchantment with America, triggered by such issues as political corruption, slavery, expansionism and the encroachment of the economic sphere upon the political.

Introduction: the third democracy
Part I. Letters
Part II. Speeches, Articles, and Diplomatic Papers
Appendix 1. Tocqueville's main American correspondents
Appendix 2. chronology
Appendix 3. Sources for the texts and selected bibliography.

Subject Areas: Political ideologies [JPF], Political science & theory [JPA], General & world history [HBG], History [HB]