Tocqueville Despotism

Tocqueville Despotism
Naela Barqawi Sociology 3020
What did Tocqueville see as the main problems facing democratic societies? Why did he think that
America showed them particularly clearly? Do you agree with him?
The main problems Tocqueville saw facing democratic societies were the danger of democratic
despotism, mass society, individualism, materialism and the excessive love for equality. The first
thing I would first like to discuss the democratic despotism. Democratic despotism is a great danger
because it can act as a tyranny. It's not so obvious as despotism by a single leader and because it's
perfectly compatible with rule by the majority. Democracy is a term indicating who is in power and
despotism is a term indicating how much power a leader has. Therefore ... Show more content on
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And this belief is what motivated his deep interest in America, his visit persuaded him that America
had achieved in a peaceful and natural way almost complete equality of conditions. He said if we
understand America, we could not only understand what democracy means, but in a way even take a
look into the world's future. He wrote, " I confess, that in America I saw more than America; I
sought the image of democracy itself, with its inclinations, its character, its prejudices, and its
passions, in order to learn what we have to fear or hope from its progress." (Democracy in America
Volume I) He thought he saw the outlines of a new kind of society, which would slowly become that
kind of society for the rest of the world. He saw at first hand democratized society. America became
somewhat apprehensive of what they thought. America achieved its independence and many of the
French supported America. Many Frenchmen learned their lesson when they came here and then
they went back and began. Tocqueville saw the industrial revolution the enlightenment, and the
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Critical Analysis Of Alexis De Tocqueville's Democracy In...
Throughout the course of the semester, we spent numerous hours as a class learning, analyzing, and
discussing about various tyrannical powers, equality vs inequality, freedom vs enslavement, the
visible dangers of government and society, along with other crucial themes that involve societies
back then till societies today. It was not until we got have way through the semester, that we
acknowledged one philosopher's work more than anyone else's. His name was Alexis De
Tocqueville and he was most notably known for being a French diplomat, a political scientist and a
famous historian. We spent over a quarter of our semester discussing his work "Democracy in
America" because it was possibly one of the most accurate representations of our culture. Honestly,
at first glance I would have disagreed with most Tocqueville's ideas and opinions. Until, I examined
his beliefs further and realized how correct he was. He managed to pinpoint America's democracy
perfectly, along with managing the risk that come with it. His emphasis throughout the book, is the
obliviousness of the American people towards the negative effects that democracy has on one's
culture, while also offering solutions to the problem, so we can become civilized and humanized
people instead of being industrial animals.
In the middle of his novel, Tocqueville makes this major claim "I do not say that at the present time
frequent use is made of tyranny in America" I say, "No guarantee against [tyranny] may be
discovered

Despotism And The Framers Of The Constitution Dbq
King George the Third ruled England through despotism, and the Framers of the Constitution did
not want the same fate. In May of 1787, fifty–five state delegates arranged a Constitutional
Convention in Philadelphia. The delegates argued a long list of reasons why the Articles of
Confederation was not working, thus creating a completely new outline of the government. The
making of the Constitution restrained one person or group from obtaining too much power and
turning America into an autocracy. The Framers introduced, federalism, separation of power, checks
and balances, and the small and large state compromise into the governing document. Federalism
was a strong starting point to prevent America from becoming a dictatorship. Different powers were
given in James Madison's compound government. The state and federal governments provide
"double security" to the rights of the people in America. (Doc. A) On one hand, the state government
deals with smaller, more private situations, such as establishing schools, holding elections, and
setting up local governments. On the other hand, the federal government deals with bigger issues,
such as declaring war, making immigration laws, and regulating trade. Even though both
governments have ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Separation of power was inspired by Montesquieu, a philosopher during the Enlightenment. The
Congress is in charge of legislative power. They have the ability to make laws. The the president is
in charge of the executive powers and he has to enforce the laws. The Supreme Court determines
what laws are broken, in the judicial branch. As said by James Madison in Federalist Paper #47,
"Liberty requires that the three great departments of power should be separate and distinct." (Doc.
B) When power is divided between the three branches that each have different roles, no one will get
too much power and everyone is

Thomas Hobbes Despotism
After attending the press conference on January 18, 1783 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nine
political philosophers advocated their views on the best form of government. They have reached a
consensus. The most focal being Thomas Hobbes' views on the relationship of the governed and the
authority, King Louis's stance on an absolute ruler, and William Laud's premise of religious
applications in government. Therefore, the best form of government is one of an absolute sovereign.
Thomas Hobbes promoted despotism in which the common man is, by all means, submissive to the
unquestionable decision maker. For instance, he claims that men are selfish in their natural state.
Hobbes emphasizes that "The condition of man... is a condition of war of everyone against
everyone." This freedom spurs chaos and insecurity. This leads us to his "Social Contract" theory.
Hobbes argues that people should surrender their rights that limit another's to the governing body in
exchange for security. In other words, since men are inherently driven to act by their wants, a tacit
agreement between men and the monarch is made to shield them from their wickedness. Lastly,
Hobbes states that a division of power will cause internal conflict within government. To put it in
another way, there will always be debate in compromise. Therefore, the nation will ... Show more
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He thoroughly believed in the divine right of kings. Likewise, if you didn't, you were a bad
christian. Laud also supported the principles of the Book of Common Prayer which supported
obedience to god. Nonetheless, Laud voiced for religious uniformity. He feared that the church
would lose its influence. To infer, Laud suggested to solely rely on the teachings of the anglican
church, thereby increasing the influence of the church and the king. Since the king was a prophet
from god, he therefore should be the ruler. Essentially, if the common people revolt, they were
straying away from

Democracy in America Essay
Democracy in America
Throughout the course of history, mankind has been recorded to corrupt itself. Men have grown
tired of simply surviving; they have had to take and conquer others. Absolute monarchies control
wealth, land, and even lives of men. The conditions of the people were solely dependent on the
conditions of the one who was in power in that particular place and time. History has proven that
most men rule unwisely in their kingdoms. To avoid tyrannical rule, some make an attempt to set up
a government in which the people ruled themselves. This form of government is called a democracy,
or "rule of the people." History has also revealed through the Greeks and the French Revolution, that
a democracy that gives complete power ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As a result, it was not received as well as the first part, except in England where it was acclaimed
highly.2
Tocqueville believes that history progresses with the inevitable growth of equality of conditions, and
he sees America as the furthest progression of this growth. The extraordinary level of equality can
be both a help and a hindrance to freedom. "On the one hand, one cannot have complete freedom.
"As social conditions become more equal, the number increases who, although they are neither rich
enough nor powerful enough to exercise any great influence over their fellow–creatures, have
nevertheless acquired or retained sufficient education and fortune to satisfy their own wants."1 "Yet
at the same time, Tocqueville recognizes than in almost every situation, freedom is endangered by
an overly ardent passion for equality."3 "This, independently of equality itself, tends powerfully to
divide men, to lead them to mistrust the judgment of others, and to seek the light of truth nowhere
but in their own understandings."1
Tocqueville inaccurately stated the out come of a possible civil war. "As long as it only indirectly
assailed by the interpretation of its laws, and as long as its substances is not seriously altered, a
change of opinion, an internal crisis, or a war, may restore all the vigor which it requires. So far is
the Federal Government from acquiring strength, and from threatening the sovereignty of the States,
as it grows older, that I maintain

How Did Thomas Jefferson Reduce Them Under Absolute Despotism
Thomas Jefferson wanted to separate from the British for many reasons, including, Usurpation,
Despotism and Violence. The British Government was taking away things from the colonists and
taking credit from them. Jefferson said, "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, it is their
right, it is their duty, to throw off such government". It is obvious the Government was taking things
away from the colonists, as Jefferson mentions it more than once saying, "reduce them under
absolute despotism". Jefferson mentions usurpation saying that the British took their power and
property. The King would take their achievements and claim them as his own. The Government was
exceedingly controlling towards colonists, so much so that they couldn't

Alexis De Tocqueville's Democracy In America
Alexis De Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America while visiting the country from France. During
his stay, he observed the government and its strengths and flaws. He recorded his findings and
published them in Democracy in America. His book details many aspects of the American
government, but is most notably known for his opinion on the tyranny of the majority and the
potential despotism that could arise. Tocqueville's concerns for the American government could be
seen as addressed in the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment. Tocqueville expresses the fear of
a tyranny of the majority in a democracy. Tocqueville describes the idea of a majority by stating, "it
is the very essence of democratic government that the majority has absolute sway, for in a
democracy nothing resists the majority," (Vol. 1, PT 2, Chapter 7 ... Show more content on
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The ratification of this amendment applied the Bill of Rights to the states. In doing so, Tocqueville's
concern of a tyranny of the majority at the state level is now combatted. He established his view that
the creation of the United States Constitution involved more intelligence than the development of
state constitutions. He believed that the national constitution discussed factions in a more effective
way. With the enumerated regulations on factions now applying to the states, the possibility of the
majority gaining too much power is now diminishing. The lack of protections within the states is
now no more. The Fourteenth Amendment protects the rights of the people without giving
administrative power to the federal government, but gives more power to the federal government.
Though the federal government is gaining some power, decentralization of the administration
persists. This eliminates the fear that the majority can do away with the minority's rights, as well as
have centralized power that includes legislative and implementation

How Did Alexis De Tocqueville Influence Town Government
Alexis de Tocqueville's Influence
Alexis de Tocqueville's observation of the American prison system brought out several interesting
facts about America and how it governs itself. He talks of the danger of greed for money, the
importance of forming associations, and the power of influence in town government. Although
many of his observations have since changed, many of them bring about legitimate points about
American government and society.
In de Tocqueville's book Democracy in America, he is quoted as saying, "...I know of no other
country where love of money has such a grip on men's hearts or where stronger scorn is expressed
for the theory of permanent equality of property." In ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
I believe we have been successful as a country in doing this. We have learned that we must rely on
one another in order to meet all of our needs to the best of our own abilities.
de Tocqueville also points out how powerful personal influence can be in town government.
Consider his quote, "In towns it is impossible to prevent men from assembling, getting excited
together and forming sudden passionate resolves. Towns are like great meeting houses with all the
inhabitants as members. In them the people wield immense influence over their magistrates and
often carry their desires into execution without intermediaries." He is pointing out that local
government will almost always find ways to get around larger government because of the immediate
interest of residents. In reality, it is the people that run the government because they have the ability
to remove elected representatives if they aren't getting things done the way the people want. The
problem is, many people fail to realize this fact and just don't vote. The want to blame the problems
of the country on the elected officials although they are the ones that did, or in some cases, did not,
vote for the person who will make the voice of the people heard.
I think overall, de Tocqueville's view of America was right on key with many of my personal views.
I agree

Enlightened Despotism in Prussia
Assignment: 1
Critically examine the main features of Enlightened Despotism in 18th century Prussia.
The Enlightenment refers to an important cultural and intellectual movement of the 18th century,
whose goal was to establish knowledge based on an enlightened rationality. Enlightened Absolutism
or Enlightened Despotism as it is more often called can be defined as a form of government strongly
influenced by the wide propagation of ideas and the political philosophy of the Enlightenment. It is
a term first used by the Philosophes in the second half of the 18th century that manifested to
describe a particular phase in the development of absolutism. The term 'Enlightened Despot' refers
to those 18th century monarchs who were familiar with ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Christian Wolff was the first to introduce the ideas of the Enlightenment into German administrative
theory. His ideas derive from the Enlightenment. According to Wolff, the state was a voluntary
contract between individuals and the main purpose of the state was to further welfare and security.
At the same time, since the state has the duty to plan and implement measures for security and
welfare, it has the right to insist that its citizens obey its orders. It is emphasized that they are bound
to do willingly whatever the authorities deem to be right. These ideas were expounded and
elaborated, without adding anything new, by the German political theorists of the 18th century and
particularly by the followers of Wolff.
In practice, Enlightened Absolutism was certainly not so radical. The Physiocrats never got beyond
the initial stages in the implementation of their doctrines. Thus the French doctrine of Despotisme
éclaire remains an interesting trend of thought, but its practical effect was almost nil. The direct
influence of the German 18th century administrative theory was not much as well.
Frederick II of Prussia is often regarded as the first true enlightened despot. He was the first
monarch who declared 'the sovereign is the first servant of the state' and presented Europe with a
model of progressive monarchy. Frederick cultivated friendship with several Philosophes and
believed that inputs from them could be used to make the administration of

Acid Despotism Affecting North America
Acid Despotism affecting North America
Acid despotism means the rain, snow, and hail; have all been made sufficiently acidic by
atmospheric pollution that will inevitably cause environmental harm. How the the atmosphere
becomes polluted is from NOx's, SOx's and CO2. These source evaporate into the atmosphere and
accumulate. North America has a wind pattern that moves from west to east so all the atmospheric
pollution moves to the east. Normal atmospheric pH is 5.5; according to the graph all of the brown
is sitting at 5.5 pH level. The blue parts in the graph shows where the pH is lower and is atmosphere
is more acidic. Provinces that are not part of the precambrian shield, like Ontario, Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick, are hardest hit because ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For a water system that had become far to acidic and nothing is living. A process called freshwater
de–acidification will spring the the water into becoming healthy again. The process starts with add
the lime directly to the water body. However in the cases of certain lakes where the turnaround is
very quick, the lime is added to the body of water. This has disadvantages though, the main one
being that the lime can have an adverse effect on wetland species of plants The advantages,
however, are that the effects are longer lasting and metals are prevented from leaching into the lake
water from the soil. The alkalinity of the limed lake is increased, the pH increased and heavy metal
concentrations decrease back to within safe limits for fish life. The number of species of fish,
animals and plankton increases as does biomass production. The chemical equation for liming water
is CaCO3(s) + H2SO4(aq) ⇨ CaSO4*2H2O + CO2(g). If your soil or forest becomes too acidic a
process called liming will help. Soil pH is a measure of the relative acidity or alkalinity in soils. It is
a fundamental chemical property because it influences the availability of nutrients and the solubility
of elements like aluminum and manganese, which are detrimental to crop

Essay on Navigating Interstitial Spaces
Navigating Interstitial Spaces
"[T]he law permits the Americans to do what they please."
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America
The protection of virtue, I submit, requires an understanding of interstitial spaces–spaces where
formalist adherence to rules and laws does not suffice to adequately promote virtue. Recognition of
these spaces spawned agent morality and Aristotle's practical wisdom. Fascination with these spaces
fueled Alexis de Tocqueville's inquiry into American religious, familial and political mores in
Democracy in America. Though America's formal, codified laws of the 1830s granted "dangerous
freedom" to the individual, Americans managed to navigate interstitial spaces with assiduous virtue.
This ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Given the arguments in my second seminar paper on Socratic citizenship, the comparison between
Plato's Guardians and Aristotle's men of practical wisdom seems to be a reasonable one. Both
Guardians and men of practical wisdom operate relatively freely in a moral system of substantive
justice, with little reference to fixed principles. Plato's discussion of democracy in the Republic and
of obedience in the Crito, however, makes clear that he did not believe regular individuals could
operate virtuously in interstitial spaces between fixed rules and principles. Plato feared a democratic
expansion of liberty which would allow each citizen to "pursue a way of life to suit himself," as this
would unleash a torrent of subjectivism and a bastardization of virtue. As such, his ideal Republic
employed absolute rule of the Guardians, noble lies and temperance (read "disinterest in political
participation") to close the interstitial spaces which would allow the clumsy subjectivism of the
lower classes to operate. Emancipated from the rule of the Guardians, the "democratic man" cannot
control his desires and sows the seeds of tyranny. Plato seems convinced that the democratic
expansion of interstitial spaces could only mean extinguishing virtue.
Pericles' Athens provides a compelling counter–example to Plato's pessimism about democracy.
Pericles prescribes a mixture of individual

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest And 1984 Critical Analysis
The two texts studied, 1984 and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, both teach the viewer essential
lessons about the importance of freedom and the dangers of despotism. They do this by showing the
viewer how awful life is in the absence of freedom, the constant abuse of power by authoritarian
forces, and the elimination of love. The film 1984, directed by Michael Radford, is based on the
highly acclaimed novel, 1984, written by George Orwell. The film follows the life of a man called
Winston living in a dystopian society. Throughout the film, the viewer sees the cruel consequences
Winston faces due to disobeying the oppressive governmental forces, as a result teaching the
audience of the importance of freedom and the dangers of despotism. ... Show more content on
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The lack of freedom is shown in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest when Nurse Ratched prohibits
Randle and the others from watching the World Series. In order for Randle to be able to watch the
World Series, he must obtain a certain amount of votes. At first, he does not, leaving Nurse Ratched
once again feeling successful. The second time Randle asks to watch the game, he does obtain the
required amount of votes, yet Nurse Ratched claims it does not count, as the requirement was not
met while the group meeting was still running. Small instances like this leave people such as Randle
left feeling helpless and as if they are not entitled to basic forms of enjoyment. The lesson that each
of the texts attempt to show the reader is that freedom is an important aspect of life, even having the
freedom to do what we view as minuscule activities, such as to choose what to watch on television.
Love is believed to be having a deep affection for someone, whether that be a spouse, parent, or
child. Throughout both 1984 and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest the idea of love is diminished as
much as possible. In 1984, love for anything but The Party is prohibited and sex is solely for
procreational purposes. Before Winston meets Julia, he follows the Government's commands and
abstains from love. However, soon after meeting her he falls in love and is quick to disobey.
Eventually they are

Napoleon's Central Tenets Of Enlightened Despotism
There is much debate over the issue of Napoleons 'Enlightened Despotism'. Some state that he
clearly could not have been one, as he unquestionably rejected one of the central tenets of
enlightened despotism, that of a belief and compliance with the principles of enlightenment.
However, when regarding Napoleon and his action as a whole, his policies and intentions fall
enough in line with the aims and views of a traditional enlightened despot, to the point where we
may judge him as one, and compare him to others. So why is the topic of Napoleons Enlightened
despotism relevant when discussing his policies of centralized control in france?
Well, the establishment of this will allow us to place his policies of centralised control into a relative
context and as such analyze the extent to which they were successful. His policies of centralized
control were much the same as enlightened despots before him, such as Jacob of Austria and
Catherine the great of Russia, both of which employed a system of centralized government to great
effect (both positive and negative). But the results of Napoleons centralized government greatly
differ from that of Jacob or Catherine, and this is a result of the unique position in which Napoleon
found himself. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Napoleon came to power at a time of instability, when people were longing for a strong leader
whom they could look up to, as the directory (the ruling body in france at the time) was seen as
weak willed, and generally not

Sexual Inequality, Disease And Despotism
Despite some of the truths in this quote like the idea that agriculture may have led to "sexual
inequality, disease and despotism", agriculture revolution still had an immensely positive impact.
Following the creation of agriculture came a sedentary life style, and these two concepts led to the
significant increase in human population, as it was a more stable approach to living. It is only
human nature to want more, want to succeed, and want to better them selves and maintain
dominance. If the adoption of agriculture had not occurred, another concept with as many negatives
would have been adopted in order to take that "step toward a better life." When one looks at the
other possible routes that could've been taken, the agricultural progression ... Show more content on
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Such a demand called for enhancement in technology and tools. Tools were not a new concept
during the creation of agriculture, yet, with the agrarian age and those to follow came the
advancement of tools. Tools transitioned from the first stone hand axe4 to unique tools specifically
for agriculture, such as the plow, and other tools that had been used since the earliest of times were
upgraded. Food storage and systems food processing became a necessity to these agricultural based
societies. Agriculture changed and bettered previously used tools in a way that wouldn't have been
possible without the agrarian world. Following these creations came the irrigation system. Some
societies faced the challenge of flooding spoiling crops. The use of these large and complex
irrigation systems gave them control of the water that raises their crops. Though an irrigation system
wouldn't have been a necessity in a world without agriculture, this system inspired and birthed new
inventions that have aided different aspects of life that humanity could not go with out. Alongside
these advancements came the advancements regarding architecture. As agriculture played the
greatest role in sedentary civilizations, it is also the motive behind the growing interests and
improvements in architecture. Through out the Indus Valley during the third millennium B.C.E.
"vast ground plans and impressive structures" sprouted.5 The greatest of architectural revelations are
remembered though Greek and Roman movements. These two cities and their architectural expertise
played a significant role in art movements. Ancient Rome revolutionized architecture with unique
stonework and their distinct coliseums. Yet, historians first discuss advancements in architecture
following the creation of agriculture. "It [agriculture] encouraged the creation of permanent
housing..."6 The seemingly

The Threat Of Liberty Equality Based Societies By Alexis...
Threat to Liberty in Equality Based Societies While traveling across the United States, Alexis de
Tocqueville recorded how democracy operates and the roles of its participants in, "Democracy in
America." Tocqueville demonstrates his admiration of the American democratic system and
Americans' dedication to freedom, equality, and supporting one another. Despite these praises, there
is also a looming danger against liberty in not only America, but in all societies based on equality.
The most imminent threat to liberty in these societies is despotism as it prevents individuals from
exercising their natural freedoms and rights. Tocqueville proposes resolutions to this threat, such as,
government decentralization and civil associations. Despotism flourishes in equal societies due to
individuals isolating themselves and forming a centralized governing institution. As stated by
Tocqueville, "Equality places men beside one another without a common bond to hold them.
Equality disposes them not to think of those like themselves..." (485). With aristocracies, a society
not concerned with equality, there is a ligature between individuals within each socioeconomic
class. For instance, the noblemen associate with noblemen, while the poor associate with the poor.
However, with societies based on equality, mankind is no longer divided by their means. The
wealthy are equal to the poor in rights and freedoms, but not in monetary wealth. Lacking this
unification amongst each other's

Compare And Contrast Tocqueville And Crevecoeur
People in Great Britain wanted to escape the aristocracy and establish freedom for themselves and
their families. The writings of Alexis de Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, and J. Hector St.
John Crevecoeur's, "Letter from an American Farmer," helped catapult the idea of America being
this new land of the brave and free. According to Tocqueville, American became a place where the
Puritans found freedom for themselves. The Puritans really pushed for democracy and equality in
this new land as a vast dichotomy of what they escaped in Britain. America being a place of
democracy that was not dependent upon a royal family and aristocracy for ruling was a source of
pride for the people and made America unique. Additionally, the idea of its people having power,
rights, and a constitution to protect that supported the idea of equality and liberty. Crevecoeur stated,
"He persecutes nobody, and nobody persecutes him, he visits his neighbors, and his neighbors visit
him." There is the idea that in America one can be themselves and everyone has the same basic
human rights. Crevecoeur's writing differed from Tocqueville in the accuracy of America at the time
and how accessible the American Dream actually was for all of the people living in America. The
writings of Tocqueville and Crevecoeur highlight these great accomplishments by Americans and
shifts the narrative of America being run by natives and British immigrants to American being run
by Americans. Alexis de Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, initiated a trend in American
studies by examining the shift from aristocracy to democracy. This new world run by the people and
not by kings was fascinating at the time and very different, thus making America unique.
Democracy was especially a source of pride in America because it actually worked unlike in other
places, like France. Tocqueville states, "The government democracy brings the notion of political
rights to the level of the humblest citizens, just as the dissemination of wealth brings the notion of
property within the reach of all the members of the community; and I confess that, to my mind, this
is one of its greatest advantages." This became a catalyst for a shift in American studies because
essentially

Despotism In Julius Caesar
Cassius, As a young man he studied philosophy in Greece and was known for his opposition against
despotism. Gaius Cassius, in William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, reflects the
hopes, fears and the expectations of the Ancient Greek Culture because he is easily threatened like
the Greeks. The Ancient Greek Culture, a very unique culture, is filled with many expectations,
hopes, and fears. For instance, the Greeks were very powerful and many other empires rising they
were constantly under a threat. According to Jimmy Stevenson, a student at Iowa State University, in
his article, "Ares: A God without Honor.", explains, "Ancient Greece was a civilization that
dominated much of the Mediterranean ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Gaius Cassius was easily threatened by Julius Caesar due to him having more power and the fear of
him expanding, while the Greeks were threatened by rising empires such as the Persians because
they thought they had more power and were going to be a threat to them. Paul Cartledge, the former
A.G, Levant's Professor of Greek Culture at the University of Cambridge, in his article "The
Democratic Explains", explains, "Power to the people, all the people, especially the poor majority,
remained the guiding principle of Athenian Democracy." The Greek's formed a government called a
democracy, the belief in power to the people. He reflects the Greeks because they thought and acted
the same, they all decided that the power should be within the people and not within

The Liberation From England 's Despotism
In a very short time, the United States grew from thirteen small colonies that were governed by a
monarchy over 3,000 miles away into a self–sustaining democratic nation of fifty states. The
liberation from England's despotism occurred not by accident or happenstance, but from a collective
whole of society whose moral resolve led to the famous phrase "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness" (National Archives, 1776) written in America's Declaration of Independence 239 years
ago. These certain inalienable rights are our nation's backbone for what we stand for and what we
believe in. Our government, the government our forefather's created, is responsible for the freedoms
we experience on a daily basis. However, what are we doing as a nation to ensure that the same
rights and reasons for which they fought for are being preserved so that we not only retain our
present way of life but also improve upon it for ourselves and future generations to come? When
government is spoken of often it sounds as if it is its own entity enabled to make its own decisions
free from repercussions as well as accountability. As if it was a person that could be disciplined for
misbehaving. The government did this...or the government did that...or can you believe what they
are doing in Washington? Have we forgotten what President Lincoln said in his Gettysburg Address:
"...That the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the
people for the people, shall not

What Is Tocqueville Relevant Today
Alexis De Tocqueville was a French intellectual who lived in the heartland of the enlightenment. He
decided to go to America because he thought he saw the outlines of a new kind of society, which
would slowly become the kind of society for the rest of the world. He saw at first hand a
democratized society with many issues. After his return, from America, he wrote and published the
book that made him famous, Democracy in America. Democracy in America discusses many of the
issues he encountered, but what he observed in the nineteenth century is still relevant today.
The main problems Tocqueville saw facing democratic societies were the danger of democratic
despotism, mass society, individualism and the excessive love for equality. I would first like to
discuss the democratic despotism. Because democratic despotism is perfectly compatible with rule
by majority it is not immediately obvious as despotism. Democracy is a term indicating who is in
power and despotism is a term indicating how much power a leader has. Therefore when the people
rule and the majority have absolute power, there is a democratic despotism. But the only way to run
a society is to base decisions on what the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Tocqueville saw a problem facing democratic societies, which is mass society. The danger that the
majority will become tyrannical creates mass society with the worry that when people are together
the view of the majority come to be the dominating principal. Those in the minority will be helpless
with no voice and will be pressured to conform into what the majority wants. Conforming to the
majority opinion negates the principal of equality. Therefore, an aristocracy can never become a
majority while it retains its exclusive privileges, and it cannot yield its privileges without ceasing to
be an aristocracy. In a powerful passage, Tocqueville states how this form of tyranny can be worse
than the past

Democracy In America Analysis
Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville includes Tocqueville's observations on what
American society and culture was like during the 1830's. Throughout his analysis of America, he
draws many outlandish and interesting conclusions regarding what life was like during this time
period. For example, in Chapter 18, Tocqueville remarks that citizens in democratic societies are
independent, which makes them weak and subsequently uninfluential in society. He goes on to say
that in order to combat this, associations must be established to combat individualism and to
circulate new thoughts and ideas. All in all, Tocqueville's claim is certainly valid, but only up to a
certain point because there were a select few of individuals that were able to make an influence on
society without the help from any associations. Generally speaking, Tocqueville's claim is
completely valid for the average citizen of America. The average citizen in America during this time
period was certainly weak in the aspect that their voice didn't hold much power. Therefore,
according to Tocqueville, the only way to gain power was to join an association because there was a
power in numbers. Essentially, thousands of voices saying the same thing was significantly more
powerful than just one voice saying something. A prime example of this is seen in a dueling poster
as Tharp pronounces Smith as a "scoundrel, rascal, & coward," (Becoming America 283). Tharp
makes this public because the more people that

Disadvantages Of Enlightened Despotism
Some of the traits most associated with enlightened despotism include many types of reforms
inspired by the Enlightenment made by absolute monarchs, these reforms were of social, economic,
legal, and educational, and religious tolerance. These reforms did not allow for the question of their
central power, or of the accepted social class order. I believe this form of government to an extent
could work with today's political climate, as it has been going. Although, rule, entirely of the
monarch, would eventually fall, and absolute power would bring mostly disadvantages. Religious
toleration is something that is needed within all societies, as it should be a promise never to change,
because without toleration of religion, any type of war is able ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The impact that Frederick II's reign had on the geo–political organization of Western and Eastern
Europe was his foreign policy. This is where Prussia gained this province of the West, where the
isolation of East Prussia happened by linking with monarchical states. This had made the kingdom
more capable of defense and within its territory, Prussia was more predominantly to the East, and
had also made the dividing social and political differences sharpen with that of the other states of
Western Europe.Russia's czarist government in one way, helped protect the rights of nobles and
peasants in the Table of Ranks. This table let all men have the ability to serve the state, and had to
longer allow Russia's military to rely on heredity positions. This gave larger privileges to those who
placed higher in the ranks, which can be compared with England's parliamentary democracy of the
protection of their rights, though in order of their services they had committed.This quote follows
how King Louis XIV "territorial ambition" did not suit him in the future as it would the

Powerful Enlightened Depots
Enlightened despotism is defined as "a form of government in the 18th century in which absolute
monarchs pursued legal, social, and educational reforms inspired by the Enlightenment" (The
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica). The magnitude of the philosophy movement known as the
Enlightenment sent ripples throughout Western society. The philosophers believed that in order to
improve society they had to "enlighten" the monarchs. The views of the Enlightenment did to find
their way inside the palaces of Europe's leaders; however, the monarchs retained their great power
of absolute rule. Among these enlightened despots of the age were Frederick the Great of Prussia,
Catherine the Great of Russia, and Joseph II of Austria. These leaders all attempted to bring their
respective countries into a new age. The basis of enlightened despotism was the idea of improving
the lives of a country's citizens. This concept of leadership during this time was ultimately a good
idea, but it was not successfully exercised to its fullest extent. From a young age, Frederick the
Great took a great liking to culture and literature. He was especially infatuated with the language
and lifestyle of the French. The French philosopher Voltaire was a friend to Frederick and had a
great influence on his Enlightenment ideals. He initially hid his love of the Enlightenment during his
reign, but later he began to realize how the philosophies of the movement could actually advance
and fortify his state. He

Examples Of Enlightened Despotism
The key to Enlightenment during this time period is rationality, meaning rulers probably favored
science and philosophy. Rulers actually became more open–minded and provided more freedoms for
their subjects during this period of time. For instance, rulers often implemented freedom of religion,
and freedom of speech. Rulers also funded the arts, science, and education. They wanted the masses
to be more knowledgeable so that the kingdom overall can become more intelligent and productive.
Enlightened Despotism is when a monarch adopts the ideas of the Enlightenment, primarily
rationality, which means he probably funded arts, sciences, and education, while also allowing his
subjects more freedom. An example of an enlightened despot of the eighteenth century was
Catherine the Great. She was the ruler of Russia and helped the country in many ways. For example,
Catherine built an art museum. It was named the Hermitage Museum. It started off as Catherine's
personal art and literature collection. Not only that, but she also invested a great deal of her wealth
into creating education institutes throughout Russia. She fought for women's education rights. She
was also the first ruler to issue paper money in Russia, meaning she established ... Show more
He was much like Catherine and helped make his society a much better place to live in. He was also
called Joseph of Austria. He reformed the legal system in the Empire. Also, he abolished brutal
punishments and even the death penalty in some instances. He also made it so that all offenders
were treated equally on the law. He also stopped censoring the press. Lastly, he made education
accessible to all children in the empire. He had elementary education available to all boys and girls.
He made education more available. Even university–level education was granted to some. All in all,
Joseph helped change his empire for the

Montesquieu's Greatest Mark on Philosophy Essay
Doubtless, if Montesquieu were forced to choose a favorite mathematical formula, he would pick
the average function. For even among the great thinkers of the French Enlightenment, the baron de
Montesquieu stands out as an especially impassioned advocate for moderation. Montesquieu, of
course, left his greatest mark on the philosophy of the governance through his great work The Spirit
of the Laws. Though certainly his earlier work The Persian Letters sowed the seeds of many of the
ideas featured in his chef d'œuvre. In particular, Montesquieu spends some time in both works
examining the universe of possible governments. But he advocates not, in fact, for republicanism or,
perhaps less surprisingly, despotism. Rather, Montesquieu ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Further, Usbek notes a few paragraph later, "When Osman, the Turkish emperor, was deposed, none
of the men who performed the deed had any intention of carrying it out; they were simply
petitioners asking for some cause of complaint to be put right" (Persian Letters 159). Here,
Montesquieu shows not only subject's suffering at the despots cruel hand, but also stresses the
intrinsic instability of a despotic government.
This case is made even more explicitly in The Spirit of the Laws. In Book III, for instance,
Montesquieu ascribes a fundamental principle to each of the three types of government he outlines.
But while Montesquieu names "virtue" as the principle of a republican government and "honor" as
the principle of a monarchical government, the despotic system is given the fundamental principle
of "fear" (Spirit of the Laws bk. III, ch. 9, par. 1), easily the least noble of the three.
By contrast, Montesquieu does not make his distaste for the republican system nearly as overt. In his
discussion of the history of republics, the character Rhedi writes of the ancient Greek republics,
"Love of freedom and hatred of kings preserved Greek independence for a long time, and extended
republican government to distant parts" (Persian Letters 233), which suggests Montesquieu, through
Rhedi, feels the system has some merit insofar as it allowed the Greeks to thrive.
Even in the context of acknowledging the good the republican system has done

Mentally Pampering Students Analysis
Implications of Mentally Pampering Students Over the past few years, the environment of American
college campuses has changed drastically. More so than ever before, students and faculty must be
extremely careful over their words and actions because of the recent trend of protecting students
from anything that can offend them or cause them discomfort. The young men and women who are
currently attending these institutes of higher learning will be the next generation of leaders in real–
world politics and business and will be forced to deal with difficult people, opposing views, and
uncomfortable ideas on a regular basis. In order to deal with the inevitable difficulties that they will
face as professionals, their beliefs must be challenged and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Tocqueville focuses heavily on equality, and at one point he connects equality to the principal source
of beliefs: "I see two very clear tendencies in equality: one impels each individual towards new
ways of thinking, while the other would induce him to give up thinking voluntarily" (Tocqueville
492). Tocqueville would not be surprised to see what is happening at institutes of higher learning
today, since it is basically the shift in weight from the former to the latter. While these students
could talk to people who have different ideas in order to gain new perspectives or strengthen their
own, they instead choose to retreat into spaces where they can take comfort by avoiding
uncomfortable topics and protecting their own beliefs. A passage from Judith Shulevitz's New York
Time article "In College and Hiding from Scary Ideas" gives an effective example of the modern
problem: "At one point [a student and sexual assault victim named Emma Hall] went to the lecture
hall... but after a while, she had to return to the safe space. 'I was feeling bombarded by a lot of
viewpoints that really go against my dearly and closely held beliefs,' Ms. Hall said" (Shulevitz 2).
Instead of facing the painful situation and ideas that conflicted her own, she returned to a space
where no one would challenge her opinions or make her think of distressing memories.
Correspondingly, Tocqueville makes the remark in Democracy in America that "One of the
distinctive characteristics of democratic centuries is a taste for easy successes and instant
gratification. This can be seen in intellectual pursuits as well as other areas of life" (498). In other
words, people in America sometimes fail to see the big picture–they tend to favor

Dulles Despotism
In his speech to the Congress of Industrial Organizations, "The Moral Initiative," Dulles warned
members attending the meeting, "We cannot, however, ignore the hazards created by international
communism, which plots to pervert nationalism to its own imperialistic ends." Dulles felt that it was
the responsibility of the free world to stand up against the despotism of Communism in the speech
he continues:
The great weakness of despotism has been, is, and always will be, its disregard of the rights of man.
Despotism can always be routed if free men exploit that weakness. If our example can illumine
again the great advantages of a free society, then Soviet communism will lose its deceptive appeal ...
This quest for liberty must be simultaneously ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There is not a single country in this hemisphere which has not been penetrated by the apparatus of
International Communism ... The Communist conspiracy is not to be taken lightly. It's agents
operate under the iron discipline of the Soviet Communist Party acting as the self–proclaimed
"General Staff of the World Proletariat." The agents themselves, in order to gain a following pretend
to be reformists seeking to eradicate the evils which exist in any society.
Dulles attempted to use the same tactic he had with the American people by frightening them of the
horrors of Communism. While some of the members of the conference needed little persuasions,
others were convinced by his speeches despite not being wholly concerned with the idea of
communism. Without Dulles persistence, the Caracas Conference could have ended on a drastically
different

Montesquieu's Definition Of Inequality In Jean Jacques...
Introduction Both Jean Jacques Rousseau (28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) and Montesquieu (18
January 1689 – 10 February 1755) wrote theory concerning inequality and its effects. They explored
gender relations, slavery, and many other topics. One particular concept that they both address is
inequality and its relationship into despotism. While the authors utilize common definition of
despotism, it is plain to see that Montesquieu believes that preserving certain privileges can serve to
protect from despotism, but Rousseau, on the other hand, believes that inequality breeds it.
Montesquieu's Argument Montesquieu's Persian Letters follow the travels of two Persian noblemen,
Usbek and Rica as they tour France. During their travels, they see many unorthodox things that they
are not used to, such as the manner of women, and practice of Christian religion as compared to
Islam. At the same time, the story of the Seraglio, where Usbek's wives and eunuchs reside, happens
concurrently with the story of Usbek and Rica's travels. Usbek tries to keep an open mind about his
foreign experiences and shares them with his companions, wives, and eunuchs via letters.
Montesquieu wants to protect historical privileges. Preserving privileges, or sometimes called, ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For both of the authors, despotism does not necessarily refer to a single tyrant, but a system of
government, characterized by a lack of laws, lack of restraint, no respect for authority o rank, and
ran by constant fear. Montesquieu exemplifies this in his depiction of the Seraglio in the Persian
Letters. In the Seraglio, the women were basically imprisoned, and charged with pleasing the needs
of one master. This is seen in the letter Usbek writes to Roxanna (Letter 26) where he believes
Roxanna to be entirely fortunate to reside in his fortress and be virtuous by appeasing him.
Eventually, the Seraglio broke down into uncontrollable chaos, or

Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America Essay example
Alexis de Tocqueville's visit to the United States in the early part of the nineteenth century prompted
his work Democracy in America, in which he expressed the ability to make democracy work.
Throughout his travels Tocqueville noted that private interest and personal gain motivated the
actions of most Americans, which in turn cultivated a strong sense of individualism. Tocqueville
believed that this individualism would soon "sap the virtue of public life" (395) and create a
despotism of selfishness. This growth of despotism would be created by citizens becoming too
individualistic, and therefore not bothering to fulfill their civic duties or exercise their freedom.
Tocqueville feared that the political order of America would soon become ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
<br> <br>Another means by which Tocqueville believes it is possible to contest individualism is to
form associations and write newspapers. He believes that like local governments, associations help
people to realize their dependence on their fellow citizens and take interest in public affairs. It is
crucial to have institutions and civic duties which force people to look beyond their own interests
and think about the problems of the community. "As soon as several of the inhabitants of the United
States have taken up an opinion or a feeling which they wish to promote to the world, they look out
for mutual assistance; and as soon as they have found one another out, they combine. From that
moment they are no longer isolated men, but a power seen from afar, whose actions serve for an
example and whose language is listened to" (407). Seeing as citizens in democratic societies are
independent and weak, they need to form associations in order to have some influence. By bringing
people together, new thoughts and ideas are circulated with a stronger force behind them. <br>
<br>Newspapers combat individualism by allowing numerous readers to be exposed to the same
thoughts and ideas. There is a shared relationship between newspapers and associations: newspapers
aid in the formation of associations, and associations use newspapers as a means of communicating
their thoughts and ideas. When there is a notion shared by many individuals, but not

Despotism
The presidential system of government was created by the English immigrants who came to the East
Coast of the United States to escape the excesses of the crown. When declared independence and
wrote its constitution, the objective was to avoid despotism both legislative and executive
absolutism. "The first presidential system there is found in the American constitution of 1787. This
fundamental law set up a new type of relations between the executive and legislative branches,
which resulted in a presidential regime and for this reason, it was felt that the Constitution American
presidential system structures the classic, pure or par excellence. "
"A mid–nineteenth century, Walter Bagehot in The Ingles Constitution used the term to designate the
presidential system of government of the United States in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
That is why citizen participation is important not only in the election through universal suffrage, but
also in the performance of government activities, ie, involvement and engagement in public affairs,
the citizens are properly informed. "The city in general is the individual who has a stake in the
authority and obedience in public ... in the perfect republic is the individual who is able and willing
freely to obey and to rule on in accordance with the precepts of virtue."
Classification of presidential systems as Loewenstein.
1. Pure presidentialism: Those are the hallmarks of the Mexican system, ie the executive branch is
above the other two organs of government.
2. Attenuated presidentialism: are those where power is exercised jointly by the president and his
ministers, who are organized as a cabinet.
3. Weak presidentialism: Those which have tried to reduce executive influence, incorporating
elements either parliament or the executive admitting

Oriental Despotism In Montetesquieu's The Persian Letters
The European's mindset by the latter of the third of the 18th century saw that inside each Asian
burned the effervescent ember of savagery. Without controlling governance over the people,
Europeans believed anarchy would chaotically erupt in Asia. It was believed Asians truly did not
have self–control without a supreme leader. Oriental despotism is the idea that the societies in Asia
have a single totalitarian–formed government and without this leadership there would be no order to
their society. According to Montesquieu, Asian power is absolutist and held in the hands of one.
Everything that could possibly happen is in the merciless hands of the despotism. In Montesquieu's
epistolary novel The Persian Letters, he argues for oriental despotism through his two main
characters in the story Usbec and Rico. He talks about the economic, political, social and cultural
aspects of Persian society that he parallels with oriental despotism. Montesquieu also shows makes
his story of the characters into a metaphor of the destruction of oriental despotism. Marx believed in
the superiority of the west and the lack of growth in political and economic realms of Asiatic society
contributing to the concept of Asian despotism. Finally, Hegel touches on the white man's burden
where he uses oriental despotism to explain the child like relationship Europeans had with the
savage orients. Montesquieu's Persian Letters shows the reader the innerworkings of how he viewed
oriental despotism and the

How Did Voltaire Contribute To The Danger Of Despotism
Voltaire
Voltaire was a French philosopher in the eighteen century, a period of free thinkers where freedom
of thought was emerging sufficiently. However, he and others were not academically trained
scholars operating in official institutions of their time. They largely depended on talent and the
knowledge they had acquired in school having come from able families.
On his part, Voltaire greatly defended civil liberties including freedom of religion and right to fair
trial. He went against all odds to ensure social reform despite laws in France for those that were
found to have broken them. He was satirical as he often used his work to criticize church doctrine.
On his part, he failed to advocate for atheism or the overthrow of the French regime ... Show more
His mentor John Luke and England's uncertain empiricism were the motives behind his
philosophical views. He was a hypocrite in some manner as his philosophical ideas, and social
criticisms were not original although he portrayed a keen common sense. He contradicted
Rousseau's believe that civilization corrupts man as he believed in progress and the virtues of
civilization.
Voltaire significantly took part in fighting for religious liberty. He found the act of people believing
in one religion dangerous as this could expose them to the danger of despotism. He was
controversial as he articulated that existence of two or more religions would generate violence
among people. Undiplomatically, he is said to have fought to an unusual extent to right the wrongs
done against Protestants who had beliefs different to his.
Voltaire did not like Catholic Church institutions as he found them abusive. Eventually, this made
Voltaire engaged in an intense battle against the Catholic Church as he found it skeptical of religious
keenness and the emphasis of human sin. He advised people to take religion as a deterrent and
encouragement towards the good life. Notably, he had invented a saying that "if God did not exist, it
would be necessary to invent him." This was controversial as by this he just sought to encourage the
worshiping of

Essay on De Tocqueville
Alexis De Tocqueville, Democracy in America
Aristocracy is a phenomenon that is perhaps as natural a summer crop, and as devastating as the
locusts that eat it. De Tocqueville&#8217;s position on aristocracy is quite clear. He is a strong
advocate of the aristocracy, it is a part of the natural order and necessary. His position may have
some basis, however I have yet to see the &#8220;upside'; of a caste system or a good defense
of it.
De Tocqueville believes that aristocracy provides stability and fellowship. De
Tocqueville&#8217;s support of aristocracy is weak and ill founded. His first point of
aristocracy is that of stability, &#8220;Among aristocratic ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
A community bound by social class is often referred to as a slaving society. The people at the bottom
of this system are indebted to those above with nowhere else to turn. The man who is bound to
another of a higher class is most likely to be exploited, for in an aristocratic society one has only the
aristocrats to turn to for justice. Unfortunately, a man needs justice most when he is mistreated by
the aristocracy.
The aristocracy is &#8220;closely attached to something placed out of their own sphere,'; is
another idea that De Tocqueville had of the aristocracy. In reality, the aristocracy probably had very
little to do with anything outside of their &#8220;sphere';. He also claims that
&#8220;they are often disposed to forget themselves.';. If aristocrats thought about anything
besides themselves, then perhaps they would have eased some of the suffering in the world. They
could not know or care about anything that was not in their immediate world. It is unlikely that they
would be so out of their &#8220;sphere'; that they could have possibly known the poor
man&#8217;s plight, or have cared. It does not hurt the aristocrat if families live on the street.

Perception of American Exceptionalism Essay example
Americans through the years of existence have adapted well to the radical changes throughout the
world. Technology, independence and social equality are some of the diverse concepts the United
States have adapted to and developed in order to become a more unified country. Our nation
believes that it is exceptional when it comes to other countries worldwide. As can be shown through
the popular reference to America as the 'shining city on a hill'. The term "American exceptionalism"
is derived from ideals held by many Americans throughout history. Different people have analyzed
American exceptionalism through multiple literary devices. Works such as A Model of Christian
Charity, What is an American and Acres of Diamonds illustrate the ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
But if we shall neglect...shall fall to embrace this present world and prosecute our carnal intentions,
seeking great things for ourselves and our posterity, the Lord will surely break out in wrath against
us" (Winthrop, 20). This idea that the Christian deity is somehow connected to America's greatness
can be found in Conwell's work, albeit used in a different manner. Like Winthrop, Russell Conwell,
author of Acres of Diamonds, stresses how great America is with emphasis that it somehow ordained
from a higher power. However, Winthrop focuses maintaining this status through unselfish means
while Conwell uses this as a way to establish individual success. "There never was a place on earth
more adapted than the city of Philadelphia to–day, and never in the history of the world did a poor
man without capital have such an opportunity . . . Because to make money honestly is to preach the
gospel" (Conwell, 179). His argument that Philadelphia is the greatest city on earth ties in with the
concept of American exceptionalism. The connection he makes with religion is contrasted to
Winthrop since Winthrop argues that America will lose its exceptionality if it does not avoid selfish
actions. Conwell argues that God is placing America in such a place that every person has the ability
to acquire individual wealth. Though Conwell focuses on the city of Philadelphia, his arguments can
be applied to a more general sense in America. His statement that

Critical Analysis of Alex de Tocqueville's Democracy in...
Irena Cosby
Analysis of Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America Alexis de Tocqueville's visit to the
United States in 1831 prompted his work Democracy in America. This was supposed to be a chance
for him to take a look at the American prison system. However, it was obvious from his writing that
he looked at every aspect of American culture. In Democracy in America, he takes a look at how
democracy works and the pitfalls that could bring about the downfall of democracy. Throughout his
travels he noticed that private interest and personal gain motivated the actions of most Americans.
He believed this cultivated a new concept, the concept of individualism. He believed this
individualism was one of the greatest threats to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He also looked at the industrialization of America and how it fit into this new concept. He noticed
that employees of factories learned how to do one thing. While they may perfect that one skill, they
began to lose creativity and imagination. They also lost the desire to move up in society. They
became comfortable and content with their task, and every day became just like the one before it.
Owners of factories, on the other hand, held all the power. They could get richer or even lose their
wealth. However, it didn't matter how many different people were in management positions, they all
had two things in common...power and wealth. De Tocqueville believed this would create a large
population of people who relied on the few creative thinkers left to take care of them. While there
was an equality of the masses, there was still a much smaller group of people that held all the power.
Given that despots have every interest in keeping people isolated, the individualism resulting from
equality makes despotism a great threat to equality. Exercising freedom through participation in
public affairs is therefore extremely vital because it gives people a personal interest in thinking
about others in society. Local self governments are important because they draw people together,
and it is, therefore, more likely that they will exercise their liberty. De Tocqueville believed that
when

Hobbes Despotism
It is hardly adequate to argue that Hobbes commits himself to upholding that it is permissible for a
political authority to do anything he likes over his people. Instead, what one finds in him is a
statement such as, "It is a weak Soveraign, that has weak Subjects; and a weak People, whose
Soveraign wanteth Power to rule them at his will." As indicated above, a close reading of his texts as
a whole reveals striking obstacles to interpret him as recommending a despotic rule of the
commonwealth. Although the idea of ruling despotically looks very Hobbesian, it is not quite very
supported by a close reading of Hobbes's overall political philosophy. His overall argument
indicates, rather, that the sovereign cannot command anything except what

The Tradition Of Dogma And Despotism
Throughout the period dubbed the long century between 1685–1815. Scientific, political and
philosophical understanding experienced a radical reconstruction. The venerable traditions of dogma
and despotism began to be denounced and rebutted. Age–old political institutions became the focal
point of intellectual discussion and the ideas developed from these debates formed the fundamental
components of modern democracy and Communism. When discussing the Enlightenment, it is
worthy to note that it did not occur in one geographical location in a short space of time, but more
rather spanned across many countries such as Germany, England and France. The Enlightenment
and its thinkers inspired revolutions in England, America and France, which marked the end of area
that untimely gave way to Romanticism. Due to the vast assortment of philosophical ideas, this
essay aims to portray the developments in political thought as a set of general strands of thought, as
appose to precise theories. This essay can be seen as a discussion of the origins, nature and contested
status of the most important strands of political thought spawned of this era with a consideration of
the affects such ideas have had on the political organization of civilisations. As Skinner, Pocock and
Collini noted, in order to understand the development of aforementioned ideas the context in which
they were derived from must first be understood and related to contemporary conceptual paradigms
and Ideological debate .

Abraham Lincoln Despotism
"There is no reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to all the natural rights enumerated in
the Declaration of Independence – the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I hold that
he is as much entitled to these as the white man." ~Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) was born in Kentucky. He served as the 16th president of the United
States during the Civil War era (a.k.a. The War Between the States). He eventually moved to Illinois,
where he established a retiring law practice and served as a state legislator. He was elected to
Congress in 1846, but did not seek a possible reelection. Lincoln was one of the very people who
believed that America could be a great place to live, if everyone treated each other ... Show more
If one misuses the power that has been granted to him, it can lead to despotism. Slavery is an
example of despotism; one can have dominion over another person. When Great Britain colonized
and ruled over many countries long ago including the United States and India, it was an example of
autocracy. Lincoln often spoke eloquently about the Declaration of Independence as the touchstone
of American values, but contemporary social attitudes did as much as the principles of the founding
to shape his views on racial relations. The main purpose of the Declaration of Independence written
by Jefferson was to announce the colonies' separation from England. It also stated the principles that
were the foundation for seeking independence. In a speech criticizing the "Dred Scott" decision,
Lincoln emphasized that the Declaration set a standard of universal equality for the benefit of future
generations. He said that decision was "based on assumed historical facts which were not really true;
and I ought not to leave the subject without giving some reasons for saying this; I therefore give an
instance or two, which I think fully sustain me. Chief Justice Taney [...] insists at great length that
[Negroes] were no part of the people who made, or for whom was made, the Declaration of
Independence, or the Constitution of the United States" (Lincoln, Speech on the Dred Scott Decision
in Springfield, Illinois). Lincoln noted Judge Curtis's opinion showing that in five of the thirteen
original states, the freed Blacks were among the White people, who took part in the voting on the
Constitution (Lincoln, Speech on the Dred Scott Decision in Springfield, Illinois). The judge made
the following conclusion, while quoting from the US

Sexual Despotism In Susanna's Seven Husband By Ruskin Bond
Ruskin Bond, rightly observed as 'Wordsworth' of India, has made eminent contribution to Indian
writing in English. His works, sophisticated yet simple, convey a large and complex meaning
inherent in Indian life and culture. Prominently recognized for his treatment of nature, children and
childhood in his notable works, Bond also established himself as an illustrious promoter of
feminism. Under the wrap of dark comedy, he gracefully touches on the subject of sexual despotism
and repression meted out towards women. In Susanna's Seven Husbands, he ruthlessly brings out
the subjugation that a woman faces in a prejudiced society by subverting the established norms of
system and institution regarding the general perception of women's place in society. ... Show more
After her father's death, she inherits the property. She had grown up "unaccustomed to male
company" (06), and is captivated with one when she comes into contact with them in her adulthood.
Since she comes from an affluent background, she is more of a casualty to the demands of sexual
oppression. Her vibrant flow of sensuality is taken offence by the community of the times in which
she lived. Adhering to hegemony of social system, she has to marry many times in order to satisfy
her sexual desires. But in each of her six marriages she is unsatisfied, hence driving her to take
monastic vow in the end. To join a nunnery at those times could be comprehend as the only way
Susanna could control her excessive natural desires. She is held in esteem by everyone especially
her servants who possess mutual concern, love and loyalty for their mistress. She is tender and kind;
"Yes, she was kind to children and an animal even to old creatures and freaks...Her cruelty was
reserved for another species of human..." (05) Her warm attitude toward animals, children, the
marginalized or abnormal, and her contempt for men bring into dark contrast the recurring betrayal
by them, hopelessness and expectation to stay in the confinement of patriarchy which holds the rein
of liberation of passion placed on men and women. This leads Susanna to gaze at them in
abhorrence, and incline

Islamic Thought: Despotism Replacing Despotism
Princeton Readings in Islamic Thought
Despotism Replacing Despotism
In the introduction to "Princeton Readings in Islamic Thought" by Roxanne Euben and Muhammad
Zaman, the editors give a broad overview of Islamism and what it constitutes as an Islamist. The
conclusion the authors come to is that Islamism is a movement that "attempts to return to the
scriptural foundations of the Muslim community..." (Euben, Zaman page 4). Essentially, Islamism is
a restoration of norms derived from the Quran, called sharia law. As a function of Islam and sharia
law, Islamists are very hands on. Islamists like Ruhollah Khomeini and Hassan al–Turabi aren't
mere theologians but politicians that seek fulfillment of their visions. Islamists believe firmly that
the only true way to realize their vision of "authentic Islam" is through an Islamic state, dominated
by sharia law. Naturally, with the formation of a state, a government is needed to perform a variety
of functions. Islamists go as far to say that the only way to achieve true Islam is through an Islamic
state dominated by sharia law. (QUOTE?) Thus, Islamism and politics are one in the same, and the
Islamism can be seen as a religio–political movement. In the introduction, the editors bring special
attention to the relationship between Islamism and democracy. Because of the tenuous and
complicated relationship between western secular "democratic" governments and the Islamic state's
theocratic government, the editors pay special attention to

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