Alexis De Tocqueville and Democracy in America Essay

Alexis De Tocqueville and Democracy in America - Essay Example Furthermore, concerning Democracy in America, Tocqueville had vivid impressions on the equality of conditions that he saw in the United States. He described the dangers posed to liberty that is inherent in the majority rule, political consequences of the widespread property ownership, the influence of the judiciary and press in American politics. He also noted the importance of civil societies in an individualistic culture that was dominated by the self-interest, role of religion in the American society and the difference between the southern and the northern states (Tocqueville, n.d). The democratic impression that that Tocqueville had in mind is that â€Å"men will be perfectly free, because they will be equal, and they will be perfectly equal because they will be free† (Tocqueville, n.d. p.1). However, he warned that the American people’s passion of equality and liberty are unequal. In this phenomenon, the American people wanted equality in liberty and if they could not get it; they were ready to get it even if they are still in slavery. In conclusion, the visit of Tocqueville to the United States in1831 and his subsequent inquiries and interviews reveals the democracy of America during that time. In his manuscripts, he revealed the great democratic revolution that was going on in the Western World. He revealed that a democracy makes people equal, and free. However, he warned that the liberty could not be equated to equality (Tocqueville, n.d). Additionally, he pointed out that if the American people could not get their equality in liberty they were ready to get it even if in

Maryland, Jim Crow Law and The Eastern Shore Essay

Maryland, Jim Crow Law and The Eastern Shore - Essay Example Much of the Eastern Shore’s practices were the same as southern states and showed little signs of improvement at moving forward with allowing African Americans to be free through the enforcement of Jim Crow laws. The state of Maryland is located north of Virginia and south of Pennsylvania. Maryland was very popular for its steamboat trade. It’s location along the coast made it easy for steamboats to travel up and down the coast importing and exporting goods. Maryland practiced segregation and passed many laws between 1879 and 1957. Maryland, without a doubt, practiced more as a southern state as its views on recapturing slaves were more similar to the south rather than areas north west of the state. What this meant was that even though they abolished slavery, they still believed in segregation, which was more common in the south than in the north. Maryland as a whole, gave in to the abolishment of slavery when it was abolished in 1864, 101 years after it was instituted. Maryland supported many Jim Crow laws. The laws specifically segregated African Americans from living freely amongst whites. Many of Maryland’s Jim Crow laws prohibited African Americans from marrying whites, riding in steamboats with whites and attending the same schools as whites. These laws were supposed to help African Americans be free of slavery but only caused more problems like segregation. Most of Maryland was pro Jim Crow laws like the eastern shore. The eastern shore didn’t profess the practice of slavery but did implement Jim Crow laws, which were in full force through the 1960s. Much of Maryland was dependent on slavery like many of the southern states. White plantation owners participated in slavery as free labor. The free labor was important to the plantation owners because they were able to make more profit. Tobacco was one of the choice products grown. The slaves could harvest the tobacco and since the land was owned, slave masters were able to make al most 100% profits from the tobacco. Areas like the Eastern Shore of Maryland were especially subject to slavery since there was easy access to steamboats. Maryland’s Eastern Shore was an area near the Eastern shore that was accustom to strict beliefs and practices. Many African Americans struggled to find true freedom in the southern states because of such people as slave catchers and extreme racists. However, some southerners were willing to help. The Quakers that lived along the Eastern Shore were known for fighting slavery. They risked their own lives and families to protect free slaves from being captured and discriminated. The Quakers were even thought to actively participate in the Underground Railroad. Alongside of the Quakers were the free blacks. These free blacks made up a small percentage of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The free blacks were constantly in fear of becoming re-slaved or convicted of crimes. Many fled to northwestern states in fear of becoming re-e nslaved. This was similar to the fear that many slaves felt living in southern states, as the southern states still continued to practice free labor even after slavery was abolished. Practices that led the Eastern Shore to be similar to southern states include the constant re capturing of slaves and freeing of slaves. Recapturing and freeing of sl