The Project Gutenberg EBook of American Institutions and Their Influence by Alexis de Tocqueville et alCopyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright laws for your country before downloadingor redistributing this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do notchange or edit the header without written permission.Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of thisfile. Included is important information about your specific rights and restrictions in how the file may be used. You can alsofind out about how to make a donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts****eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971*******These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****Title: American Institutions and Their InfluenceAuthor: Alexis de Tocqueville et alRelease Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8690] [This file was first posted on August 1, 2003] [Most recently updated:November 6, 2003]Edition: 11Language: English*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ***E-text prepared by Lee Dawei, David King, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading TeamAMERICAN INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE.BYALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE.WITH ...
The Project Gutenberg EBook of American Institutions and Their Influence by Alexis de Tocqueville et al
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**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**
*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!*****
Title: American Institutions and Their Influence
Author: Alexis de Tocqueville et al
Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8690] [This file was first posted on August 1, 2003] [Most recently updated:
November 6, 2003]
Edition: 11
Language: English
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ***
E-text prepared by Lee Dawei, David King, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE.
BY
ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE.
WITH NOTES, BY HON. JOHN C. SPENCER.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851,
BY A.S. BARNES & CO.,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of New York.
ADVERTISEMENT.The American publishers of M. De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America," have been frequently solicited to furnish the
work in a form adapted to seminaries of learning, and at a price which would secure its more general circulation, and
enable trustees of School District Libraries, and other libraries, to place it among their collections. Desirous to attain
these objects, they have consulted several gentlemen, in whose judgment they confided, and particularly the editor of the
American editions, to ascertain whether the work was capable of abridgment or condensation, so as to bring the
expense of its publication within the necessary limits. They are advised that the nature of the work renders it impossible
to condense it by omitting any remarks or illustrations of the author upon any subject discussed by him, even if common
justice to him did not forbid any such attempt; and that the only mode of reducing its bulk, is to exclude wholly such
subjects as are deemed not to be essential.
It will be recollected that the first volume was originally published separately, and was complete in itself. It treated of the
influence of democracy upon the political institutions of the United States, and exhibited views of the nature of our
government, and of their complicated machinery, so new, so striking, and so just, as to excite the admiration and even
the wonder of our countrymen. It was universally admitted to be the best, if not the first systematic and philosophic view of
the great principles of our constitutions which has been presented to the world. As a treatise upon the spirit of our
governments, it was full and finished, and was deemed worthy of being introduced as a text-book in some of our
Seminaries of Learning. The publication of the first volume alone would therefore seem to be sufficient to accomplish in
the main the objects of the publishers above stated.
And upon a careful re-examination of the second volume, this impression is confirmed. It is entirely independent of the
first volume, and is in no way essential to a full understanding of the principles and views contained in that volume. It
discusses the effects of the democratic principle upon the tastes, feelings, habits, and manners of the Americans; and
although deeply interesting and valuable, yet the observations of the author on these subjects are better calculated for
foreign countries than for our own citizens. As he wrote for Europe they were necessary to his plan. They follow naturally
and properly the profound views which had already been presented, and which they carry out and illustrate. But they
furnish no new developments of those views, nor any facts that would be new to us.
The publishers were therefore advised that the printing of the first volume complete and entire, was the only mode of
attaining the object they had in view. They have accordingly determined to adopt that course, intending, if the public
sentiment should require it, hereafter to print the second volume in the same style, so that both may be had at the same
moderate price.
A few notes, in addition to those contained in the former editions, have been made by the American editor, which upon a
reperusal of the volume seemed useful if not necessary: and some statistical results of the census of 1840 have been
added, in connection with similar results given by the author from returns previous to that year.PREFACE TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.
The following work of M. DE TOCQUEVILLE has attracted great attention throughout Europe, where it is universally
regarded as a sound, philosophical, impartial, and remarkably clear and distinct view of our political institutions, and of
our manners, opinions, and habits, as influencing or influenced by those institutions. Writers, reviewers, and statesmen of
all parties, have united in the highest commendations of its ability and integrity. The people, described by a work of such
a character, should not be the only one in Christendom unacquainted with its contents. At least, so thought many of our
most distinguished men, who have urged the publishers of this edition to reprint the work, and present it to the American
public. They have done so in the hope of promoting among their countrymen a more thorough knowledge of their frames
of government, and a more just appreciation of the great principles on which they are founded.
But it seemed to them that a reprint in America of the views of an author so well entitled to regard and confidence, without
any correction of the few errors or mistakes that might be found, would be in effect to give authenticity to the whole work,
and that foreign readers, especially, would consider silence, under such circumstances, as strong evidence of the
accuracy of its statements. The preface to the English edition, too, was not adapted to this country, having been written,
as it would seem, in reference to the political questions which agitate Great Britain. The publishers, therefore, applied to
the writer of this, to furnish them with a short preface, and such notes upon the text as might appear necessary to correct
any erroneous impressions. Having had the honor of a personal acquaintance with M. DE TOCQUEVILLE while he was
in this country; having discussed with him many of the topics treated of in this book; having entered deeply into the
feelings and sentiments which guided and impelled him in his task,