Feb. 11, 2009 to syllabus Paper Topic Instructions and Options

New: questions on Elizabeth Cady Stanton and women's rights

History 350: American Radicalism

We’ll begin today with some discussion of the consequences of Turner’s rebellion, but I want to devote most of the class to Alexis de Tocqueville. He was anything but a radical, but his insights and views are important for our consideration of the nature of nineteenth century America and perhaps our times as well.

I. Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859): A French Aristocrat in Democratic America

    A. The United States: Pioneer in Prisons
Brief description of "Separate" and "Silent" systems Tour the Eastern State Penitentiary

    B. Tocqueville as Tourist
(Link to Virtual Tocqueville Tour) (Link to C-Span Tocqueville Website)

II. Themes of Tocqueville's Democracy in America  (Link to Tocqueville quotes)
(Text of Democracy in America)

A. Equality

    B. Materialism and Ambition

    C. Tyranny of the Majority

    D. Individualism

III. Democracy and the "Market Revolution"

IV. Another Jacksonian America?

    A. A "Manufacturing Aristocracy"

    B. Poverty and Inequality

    C. Communitarian Values

Alexis DeTocqueville                                                Tocqueville's Travels in the United States 1831

Eastern State Penitentiary: The Separate System