The Reading "Equality of Condition" by Alexis De Tocqueville
The reading Equality of Condition by Alexis De Tocqueville illustrates a host of economic and cultural considerations that the French aristocrat observed during his 9-month visit to America in 1831. Tocqueville was especially interested in researching the shortcomings as well as the virtues of American democracy, which was unlike any other European political structure at the time.
As a Jacksonian age, the main cultural element that typified America was egalitarianism, which entailed a government created by the "common man" (Toqueville 23). This leadership style is primarily democratic, which the speaker emphasizes in the reading. The French aristocrat emphasizes democracy in this literary work which helps the readers understand how equality of citizenry in America efficiently operated in as early as the 19th century and why the American aristocracy never became pragmatic.
On the other hand, the notable economic factor that Tocqueville noted was that property requirements in order to hold office were rescinded. The author emphasized on this as it implied that in America, even the poor had equal rights with the rich and since people were born politically equal, one could climb up the social ladder.
Greenberg's Editorial Work
Greenberg's editorial work advocates that the United States is shaped and considerably controlled by a coherent and elaborate system generally recognized as liberalism. According to the author, the notions, assumptions and values of liberalism pervade the economic and cultural life of the American society in considerable ways.
The chief economic factor noted by Greenberg is the existence of self-regulating markets in America (Greenberg 3). The reading explicates that liberalism has enabled the American market to adjust, rule and run itself without external interferences. The author emphasizes on this to help the readers understand how liberalism has enabled the economic life of the American society to operate without a lot of externally imposed regulations or controls.
More so, the main cultural factor blatant in the article is competitive individualism, Greenberg notes that the liberal culture of the United States is primarily self-interested and tenaciously competitive (Greenberg 4). Notably, the author emphasizes on this concept to aid the audience in comprehending the cultural makeup of America. It is a nation where every individual believes that he or she owes nothing to no one, and everybody is in charge of his or her own destiny.
Seymour Martin Lipset's Contribution
The third reading by Seymour Martin Lipset significantly contributes to the American political thought by extensively assessing the interrelationships between society, economy, and polity. The author extensively discusses why America was so successful in legitimizing democratic power and creating a robust national identity (Lipset 2). In the process, a number of economic and cultural factors are highlighted.
One of the main cultural factor that the author emphasizes on is egalitarianism. The author highlights that the rich and the poor in the American society are not far away from each other as is the case in Europe (Lipset 3). More so, the economic factor affirmed is authoritarianism as Lipset notes that Americans have the liberty to take part in different ventures conforming to the rational principles and not by the virtue of being born into certain status quo.
The Notion of Liberty or Freedom in the American Life
Outstandingly, the notion of liberty or freedom in the economic and cultural realm of the American life appears to be central in all the readings above. The readings show that men of good will can freely work together in America. This is particularly true as the United States is a country of free choice. The recognition of the free will of the people makes the country's political system exceptional from the political systems utilized in other nations.
Works Cited
De Toqueville, Alexis. On Democracy in America. Vol. 1. Sheba Blake Publishing, 2017.
Greenberg, Edward S. The American political system: A radical approach. Cambridge, Mass.:Winthrop Publishers, 1980.
Lipset, Seymour Martin. First new nation. Heinemann, 1964.
