Democracy in America

Tocqueville argues that the United States has two governments: one, the states, “responds to the daily needs of society,” while the federal government “applies only to certain general interests” (56). The key aspects of American political institutions and culture first existed on the state level, and it is essential to begin there to understand it.

The township system is Tocqueville’s first avenue of exploration, because it is not unique to America. He argues that anywhere society forms, townships exist. What is unique about America is the freedom and independence township government still exercises. Townships endure not because they are strong enough to withstand central government’s intrusions but because of “the continuous action of laws and mores, of circumstances and above all time that comes to consolidate it” (57). Local government depends both on cultural norms and legal support. Tocqueville compares townships to schools, in that they habituate citizens to participating in government and give a society the “spirit of freedom” (57).

Tocqueville argues that the nature and consequences of townships is best studied in New England, because “they are strong by law, stronger still by mores; they exert an enormous influence on the entire society” (58).

Tocqueville stresses that township population is typically about 2,000 or 3,000 people, which helps ensure the population has common interests and that there are enough qualified individuals to participate in local offices.