Alexis de Tocqueville

Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville (July 29, 1805 - April 16, 1859) was a French historian, politician, and founder of political sociology. Born into an aristocratic family, he experienced five "dynasties" (the First French Empire, the Bourbon Dynasty, the July Dynasty, the Second French Republic, and the Second French Empire). In the early stage, he was enthusiastic about politics. He served as a member of the House of Representatives in 1838. After the February Revolution of 1848, he participated in the formulation of the Constitution of the Second Republic, and he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1849. After Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte established the Second Empire in 1851, Tocqueville was arrested for opposing his proclamation as emperor. After his release, he became increasingly disappointed with politics and gradually faded from the political arena. After that, he mainly engaged in historical research until his death in 1859. The main representative works include "On Democracy in America" and "The Old Regime and the Great Revolution".

Main works

1. Du système pénitentaire aux États-Unis et de son application en France£¨1833Ä꣩¡ª¡¶ÂÛÃÀ¹úµÄÐÌÊÂÖƶȼ°Æä¶Ô·¨¹úµÄÓ¦Óá·£¬Óë¹Å˹Ëþ·ò¡¤µÂ¡¤²©ÃɺÏÖø

2. De la démocratia en Amerique (1835/1840) - On Democracy in America

One of the manuscripts of "On Democracy in America" written in 1840.

One of the manuscripts of "On Democracy in America" written in 1840.

Originally published in two volumes, the first in 1835 and the second in 1840. The first part of the first volume deals with the political system in the United States, and the second part provides a sociological analysis of democracy in the United States. The second volume is divided into four parts, which uses the United States as the background to develop its political philosophy and political sociology. It also proposes the famous theory of the tyranny of the majority. [2]

3. L'Ancien Régime et la Révolution (1856) - The Old Regime and the Revolution [3]

The book explores the French Revolution, when the original feudal system collapsed, and because it did not bring the expected results of the revolution, the contradictions between the rulers and the people became public and social unrest intensified

The Old Regime and the Revolution Books

The Old Regime and the Revolution Books

4. Tocqueville's second most famous book: Recollections (1893)-Memoirs

This is a memoir about the February Revolution in France in 1848. The comments on many of the characters (such as Louis Philippe, Louis Napoleon, Adolf Thiers, Louis Blanc, etc.) are very sharp and almost harsh. Tocqueville never thought of making it public; after his death, his wife and Gustave de Beaumont published it.

5. Journey to America-Travel to America

Tocqueville's travel notes while traveling through the United States.