Studies About Tocqueville's Comments On American Exceptionalism

Tocqueville's Democracy in America, which is one of the classical masterpieces in the field of political science, contains ample thoughts about the faith'American Exceptionalism'. This text try to sum up Tocqueville's comments on'American Exceptionalism'via the three respects:geography,laws and manners that influence and contact each other,in order to elicit the connotation and characteristics of Tocqueville's comments.There are three principal parts of the text:In Tocqueville's comments, geography is the first cause that contribute to the maintenance of the democratic republic in the United States,also it is an accidental and providential cause. Accordingly the first part of the text focuses on the uniqueness of the geography and the origin of America. It contains two pieces of content. One is the exceptional geography circumstance of America. There are expansionary terrain with comparatively few people and enough land sources for those people to reclaim, avoiding the problem of land excessly dispersed. Besides America has an preponderant barrier of the two oceans: Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. The other is the American forepart immigrants with five-thousand-year civilized experience and strong faith to achieve their dream. With the guidance and sustentation of the faith, they establish New England settlement and influence ideologies of the whole American society.The second cause that contributes to the maintenance of the democratic republic in the United States and the laws contributes more to the maintenance than geography circumstance. Therefore the second part of the text discusses the uniqueness of the laws in America. In Tocqueville's thoughts American laws are so effective that the success American government had achieved should mostly attribute to laws. Thereinto,Tocqueville thought a lot of the autonomy of township and considered it the principle of American liberty. Also he appreciated American Federal Consititution very much. It helps American government settle the paradox of large size so that America has become free and powerful. There is also one thing should pay attention to: that is the execution of Federal Consititution should cooperate with geography circumstance and manners. It cannot be adapted to all countries.Manners is the last bust most important cause that Tocqueville consumed which contribute to the maintenance of the democratic republic in the United States. Accordingly the third part of the text probes into the the uniqueness of manners which concerns a whole moral and psychic visage of the nation. It's basic feature is the integration of religious opinions and liberty spirits. Religion has an indelible influence on the formation of American people's customs and manners. Therefore this part sum up the approaches and reason why religion has such influence in America as well. Approaches are both concepts of manners and liberty,with the reason the separation of Church and State. The separation of Church and State enhances the factual influence of religion.While observing America and composing his book Democracy in America, Tocqueville frequently contrasted with France automatically. Therefore what he advocates and describes on'American Exceptionalism'is the embodiment of this comparison and meditation. The central characteristic of his thought is comparison, regarded European countries, particularly France, as the frame of the reference. By comparison the writer sums up the uniqueness of the United States.There is another characteristic which is external that in the tracing to the source of the origin of'American exceptionalism'is rather objective, never influenced by strong religious and subjective sentiment, ranging from "the theory of God's chosen people","the theory of Manifest Destiny"and so on. In his viewpoint, Compared with other European countries, America is already an adult once established. European countries all have underwent a process of culturing from ignorance and barbarism to civilization. But the Anglo-Americans migrating to the new world have been immersed in the civilization of several thousand years. A vast new stage is presented before them. They combine their unique characteristics with the geographical environment so as to construct a new society. This is the foundation of American exceptionalism proposed by Tocqueville.