In the 1830s and 1840s, a stream of Europeans ventured to the United States to see for themselves the development of the young country and to observe the nature of the mass political participation in the age of Andrew Jackson. Among these visitors was the French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville, who began a nine-month trip to the United States in 1831. He proved to be a keen observer of American life, and in 1835 published his masterpiece of political and social commentary, Democracy in America. To this day, it remains one of the most important books ever written about American political life. The following excerpt from Democracy in America offers insights into the particular nature of democracy in the young nation as well as into the new and very powerful enthusiasm among the American people.

The early observers of the American political system varied in their response. Some regarded the American people and their governmental representatives as unsophisticated, uncultured, and undisciplined. Others, however, were more positive in their evaluation of the United States. As you read the following excerpt, attempt to gauge the author’s opinion of the American political system. What does he see as the outstanding features of American life? What flaws does he observe in the American political system? How perceptive was his analysis in describing American life, politics, and the character of the people? Does his description of American democracy in the 1830s bear a resemblance to that of today?