TheEuropeantouchesseveraltimesatdifferentportsinthecourseofalongvoyage;helosesagooddealofprecioustimeinmakingtheharbor，orinwaitingforafavorablewindtoleaveit;andhepaysdailyduestobeallowedtoremainthere。TheAmericanstartsfromBostontogotopurchaseteainChina;hearrivesatCanton，staysthereafewdays，andthenreturns。Inlessthantwoyearshehassailedasfarastheentirecircumferenceoftheglobe，andhehasseenlandbutonce。Itistruethatduringavoyageofeightortenmonthshehasdrunkbrackishwaterandliveduponsaltmeat;thathehasbeeninacontinualcontestwiththesea，withdisease，andwithatediousexistence;butuponhisreturnhecansellapoundofhisteaforahalf—pennylessthantheEnglishmerchant，andhispurposeisaccomplished。
IcannotbetterexplainmymeaningthanbysayingthattheAmericansaffectasortofheroismintheirmanneroftrading。
ButtheEuropeanmerchantwillalwaysfinditverydifficulttoimitatehisAmericancompetitor，who，inadoptingthesystemwhichIhavejustdescribed，followsnotonlyacalculationofhisgain，butanimpulseofhisnature。
TheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStatesaresubjecttoallthewantsandallthedesireswhichresultfromanadvancedstageofcivilization;butastheyarenotsurroundedbyacommunityadmirablyadapted，likethatofEurope，tosatisfytheirwants，theyareoftenobligedtoprocureforthemselvesthevariousarticleswhicheducationandhabithaverenderednecessaries。InAmericaitsometimeshappensthatthesameindividualtillshisfield，buildshisdwelling，contriveshistools，makeshisshoes，andweavesthecoarsestuffofwhichhisdressiscomposed。Thiscircumstanceisprejudicialtotheexcellenceofthework;butitpowerfullycontributestoawakentheintelligenceoftheworkman。
Nothingtendstomaterializeman，andtodeprivehisworkofthefaintesttraceofmind，morethanextremedivisionoflabor。InacountrylikeAmerica，wheremendevotedtospecialoccupationsarerare，alongapprenticeshipcannotberequiredfromanyonewhoembracesaprofession。TheAmericans，therefore，changetheirmeansofgainingalivelihoodveryreadily;andtheysuittheiroccupationstotheexigenciesofthemoment，inthemannermostprofitabletothemselves。Menaretobemetwithwhohavesuccessivelybeenbarristers，farmers，merchants，ministersofthegospel，andphysicians。IftheAmericanbelessperfectineachcraftthantheEuropean，atleastthereisscarcelyanytradewithwhichheisutterlyunacquainted。Hiscapacityismoregeneral，andthecircleofhisintelligenceisenlarged。
TheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStatesareneverfetteredbytheaxiomsoftheirprofession;theyescapefromalltheprejudicesoftheirpresentstation;theyarenotmoreattachedtoonelineofoperationthantoanother;theyarenotmorepronetoemployanoldmethodthananewone;theyhavenorootedhabits，andtheyeasilyshakeofftheinfluencewhichthehabitsofothernationsmightexerciseupontheirmindsfromaconvictionthattheircountryisunlikeanyother，andthatitssituationiswithoutaprecedentintheworld。Americaisalandofwonders，inwhicheverythingisinconstantmotion，andeverymovementseemsanimprovement。Theideaofnoveltyisthereindissolublyconnectedwiththeideaofamelioration。Nonaturalboundaryseemstobesettotheeffortsofman;andwhatisnotyetdoneisonlywhathehasnotyetattemptedtodo。
ThisperpetualchangewhichgoesonintheUnitedStates，thesefrequentvicissitudesoffortune，accompaniedbysuchunforeseenfluctuationsinprivateandinpublicwealth，servetokeepthemindsofthecitizensinaperpetualstateoffeverishagitation，whichadmirablyinvigoratestheirexertions，andkeepstheminastateofexcitementabovetheordinarylevelofmankind。ThewholelifeofanAmericanispassedlikeagameofchance，arevolutionarycrisis，orabattle。Asthesamecausesarecontinuallyinoperationthroughoutthecountry，theyultimatelyimpartanirresistibleimpulsetothenationalcharacter。TheAmerican，takenasachancespecimenofhiscountrymen，mustthenbeamanofsingularwarmthinhisdesires，enterprising，fondofadventure，and，aboveall，ofinnovation。
Thesamebentismanifestinallthathedoes;heintroducesitintohispoliticallaws，hisreligiousdoctrines，histheoriesofsocialeconomy，andhisdomesticoccupations;hebearsitwithhiminthedepthsofthebackwoods，aswellasinthebusinessofthecity。Itisthissamepassion，appliedtomaritimecommerce，whichmakeshimthecheapestandthequickesttraderintheworld。
AslongasthesailorsoftheUnitedStatesretaintheseinspiritingadvantages，andthepracticalsuperioritywhichtheyderivefromthem，theywillnotonlycontinuetosupplythewantsoftheproducersandconsumersoftheirowncountry，buttheywilltendmoreandmoretobecome，liketheEnglish，thefactorsofallotherpeoples。*kThispredictionhasalreadybeguntoberealized;weperceivethattheAmericantradersareintroducingthemselvesasintermediateagentsinthecommerceofseveralEuropeannations;*landAmericawillofferastillwiderfieldtotheirenterprise。
[Footnotek:ItmustnotbesupposedthatEnglishvesselsareexclusivelyemployedintransportingforeignproduceintoEngland，orBritishproducetoforeigncountries;atthepresentdaythemerchantshippingofEnglandmayberegardedinthelightofavastsystemofpublicconveyances，readytoservealltheproducersoftheworld，andtoopencommunicationsbetweenallpeoples。ThemaritimegeniusoftheAmericanspromptsthemtoenterintocompetitionwiththeEnglish。]
[Footnotel:PartofthecommerceoftheMediterraneanisalreadycarriedonbyAmericanvessels。]
ThegreatcolonieswhichwerefoundedinSouthAmericabytheSpaniardsandthePortuguesehavesincebecomeempires。
Civilwarandoppressionnowlaywastethoseextensiveregions。
Populationdoesnotincrease，andthethinlyscatteredinhabitantsaretoomuchabsorbedinthecaresofself—defenseeventoattemptanyameliorationoftheircondition。Such，however，willnotalwaysbethecase。EuropehassucceededbyherowneffortsinpiercingthegloomoftheMiddleAges;SouthAmericahasthesameChristianlawsandChristianmannersaswehave;shecontainsallthegermsofcivilizationwhichhavegrownamidstthenationsofEuropeortheiroffsets，addedtotheadvantagestobederivedfromourexample:whythenshouldshealwaysremainuncivilized？Itisclearthatthequestionissimplyoneoftime;atsomefutureperiod，whichmaybemoreorlessremote，theinhabitantsofSouthAmericawillconstituteflourishingandenlightenednations。
ButwhentheSpaniardsandPortugueseofSouthAmericabegintofeelthewantscommontoallcivilizednations，theywillstillbeunabletosatisfythosewantsforthemselves;astheyoungestchildrenofcivilization，theymustperforceadmitthesuperiorityoftheirelderbrethren。Theywillbeagriculturistslongbeforetheysucceedinmanufacturesorcommerce，andtheywillrequirethemediationofstrangerstoexchangetheirproducebeyondseasforthosearticlesforwhichademandwillbegintobefelt。
ItisunquestionablethattheAmericansoftheNorthwillonedaysupplythewantsoftheAmericansoftheSouth。Naturehasplacedthemincontiguity，andhasfurnishedtheformerwitheverymeansofknowingandappreciatingthosedemands，ofestablishingapermanentconnectionwiththoseStates，andofgraduallyfillingtheirmarkets。ThemerchantsoftheUnitedStatescouldonlyforfeitthesenaturaladvantagesifhewereveryinferiortothemerchantofEurope;towhomheis，onthecontrary，superiorinseveralrespects。TheAmericansoftheUnitedStatesalreadyexerciseaveryconsiderablemoralinfluenceuponallthepeoplesoftheNewWorld。Theyarethesourceofintelligence，andallthenationswhichinhabitthesamecontinentarealreadyaccustomedtoconsiderthemasthemostenlightened，themostpowerful，andthemostwealthymembersofthegreatAmericanfamily。AlleyesarethereforeturnedtowardstheUnion;andtheStatesofwhichthatbodyiscomposedarethemodelswhichtheothercommunitiestrytoimitatetothebestoftheirpower;itisfromtheUnitedStatesthattheyborrowtheirpoliticalprinciplesandtheirlaws。
TheAmericansoftheUnitedStatesstandinpreciselythesamepositionwithregardtothepeoplesofSouthAmericaastheirfathers，theEnglish，occupywithregardtotheItalians，theSpaniards，thePortuguese，andallthosenationsofEuropewhichreceivetheirarticlesofdailyconsumptionfromEngland，becausetheyarelessadvancedincivilizationandtrade。Englandisatthistimethenaturalemporiumofalmostallthenationswhicharewithinitsreach;theAmericanUnionwillperformthesamepartintheotherhemisphere;andeverycommunitywhichisfounded，orwhichprospersintheNewWorld，isfoundedandprosperstotheadvantageoftheAnglo—Americans。
IftheUnionweretobedissolved，thecommerceoftheStateswhichnowcomposeitwouldundoubtedlybecheckedforatime;butthisconsequencewouldbelessperceptiblethanisgenerallysupposed。Itisevidentthat，whatevermayhappen，thecommercialStateswillremainunited。Theyareallcontiguoustoeachother;theyhaveidenticallythesameopinions，interests，andmanners;andtheyarealonecompetenttoformaverygreatmaritimepower。EveniftheSouthoftheUnionweretobecomeindependentoftheNorth，itwouldstillrequiretheservicesofthoseStates。IhavealreadyobservedthattheSouthisnotacommercialcountry，andnothingintimatesthatitislikelytobecomeso。TheAmericansoftheSouthoftheUnitedStateswillthereforebeobliged，foralongtimetocome，tohaverecoursetostrangerstoexporttheirproduce，andtosupplythemwiththecommoditieswhicharerequisitetosatisfytheirwants。ButtheNorthernStatesareundoubtedlyabletoactastheirintermediateagentscheaperthananyothermerchants。Theywillthereforeretainthatemployment，forcheapnessisthesovereignlawofcommerce。Nationalclaimsandnationalprejudicescannotresisttheinfluenceofcheapness。NothingcanbemorevirulentthanthehatredwhichexistsbetweentheAmericansoftheUnitedStatesandtheEnglish。Butnotwithstandingtheseinimicalfeelings，theAmericansderivethegreaterpartoftheirmanufacturedcommoditiesfromEngland，becauseEnglandsuppliesthematacheaperratethananyothernation。ThustheincreasingprosperityofAmericaturns，notwithstandingthegrudgesoftheAmericans，totheadvantageofBritishmanufactures。
Reasonshowsandexperienceprovesthatnocommercialprosperitycanbedurableifitcannotbeunited，incaseofneed，tonavalforce。ThistruthisaswellunderstoodintheUnitedStatesasitcanbeanywhereelse:theAmericansarealreadyabletomaketheirflagrespected;inafewyearstheywillbeabletomakeitfeared。IamconvincedthatthedismembermentoftheUnionwouldnothavetheeffectofdiminishingthenavalpoweroftheAmericans，butthatitwouldpowerfullycontributetoincreaseit。AtthepresenttimethecommercialStatesareconnectedwithotherswhichhavenotthesameinterests，andwhichfrequentlyyieldanunwillingconsenttotheincreaseofamaritimepowerbywhichtheyareonlyindirectlybenefited。If，onthecontrary，thecommercialStatesoftheUnionformedoneindependentnation，commercewouldbecometheforemostoftheirnationalinterests;theywouldconsequentlybewillingtomakeverygreatsacrificestoprotecttheirshipping，andnothingwouldpreventthemfrompursuingtheirdesignsuponthispoint。
Nations，aswellasmen，almostalwaysbetraythemostprominentfeaturesoftheirfuturedestinyintheirearliestyears。WhenIcontemplatetheardorwithwhichtheAnglo—Americansprosecutecommercialenterprise，theadvantageswhichbefriendthem，andthesuccessoftheirundertakings，I
cannotrefrainfrombelievingthattheywillonedaybecomethefirstmaritimepoweroftheglobe。Theyareborntoruletheseas，astheRomansweretoconquertheworld。
ConclusionIhavenownearlyreachedthecloseofmyinquiry;hitherto，inspeakingofthefuturedestinyoftheUnitedStates，Ihaveendeavoredtodividemysubjectintodistinctportions，inordertostudyeachofthemwithmoreattention。Mypresentobjectistoembracethewholefromonesinglepoint;theremarksIshallmakewillbelessdetailed，buttheywillbemoresure。Ishallperceiveeachobjectlessdistinctly，butIshalldescrytheprincipalfactswithmorecertainty。Atravellerwhohasjustleftthewallsofanimmensecity，climbstheneighboringhill;
ashegoesfatheroffhelosessightofthemenwhomhehassorecentlyquitted;theirdwellingsareconfusedinadensemass;
hecannolongerdistinguishthepublicsquares，andhecanscarcelytraceoutthegreatthoroughfares;buthiseyehaslessdifficultyinfollowingtheboundariesofthecity，andforthefirsttimeheseestheshapeofthevastwhole。SuchisthefuturedestinyoftheBritishraceinNorthAmericatomyeye;
thedetailsofthestupendouspictureareoverhungwithshade，butIconceiveaclearideaoftheentiresubject。
TheterritorynowoccupiedorpossessedbytheUnitedStatesofAmericaformsaboutone—twentiethpartofthehabitableearth。
Butextensiveastheseconfinesare，itmustnotbesupposedthattheAnglo—Americanracewillalwaysremainwithinthem;indeed，ithasalreadyfaroversteppedthem。
TherewasonceatimeatwhichwealsomighthavecreatedagreatFrenchnationintheAmericanwilds，tocounterbalancetheinfluenceoftheEnglishuponthedestiniesoftheNewWorld。
FranceformerlypossessedaterritoryinNorthAmerica，scarcelylessextensivethanthewholeofEurope。Thethreegreatestriversofthatcontinentthenflowedwithinherdominions。TheIndiantribeswhichdweltbetweenthemouthoftheSt。LawrenceandthedeltaoftheMississippiwereunaccustomedtoanyothertonguebutours;andalltheEuropeansettlementsscatteredoverthatimmenseregionrecalledthetraditionsofourcountry。
Louisbourg，Montmorency，Duquesne，St。Louis，Vincennes，NewOrleans（forsuchwerethenamestheybore）arewordsdeartoFranceandfamiliartoourears。
Butaconcourseofcircumstances，whichitwouldbetedioustoenumerate，*mhavedeprivedusofthismagnificentinheritance。WherevertheFrenchsettlerswerenumericallyweakandpartiallyestablished，theyhavedisappeared:thosewhoremainarecollectedonasmallextentofcountry，andarenowsubjecttootherlaws。The400，000FrenchinhabitantsofLowerCanadaconstitute，atthepresenttime，theremnantofanoldnationlostinthemidstofanewpeople。Aforeignpopulationisincreasingaroundthemunceasinglyandonallsides，whichalreadypenetratesamongsttheancientmastersofthecountry，predominatesintheircitiesandcorruptstheirlanguage。ThispopulationisidenticalwiththatoftheUnitedStates;itisthereforewithtruththatIassertedthattheBritishraceisnotconfinedwithinthefrontiersoftheUnion，sinceitalreadyextendstothenortheast。
[Footnotem:Theforemostofthesecircumstancesis，thatnationswhichareaccustomedtofreeinstitutionsandmunicipalgovernmentarebetterablethananyotherstofoundprosperouscolonies。Thehabitofthinkingandgoverningforoneselfisindispensableinanewcountry，wheresuccessnecessarilydepends，inagreatmeasure，upontheindividualexertionsofthesettlers。]
TothenorthwestnothingistobemetwithbutafewinsignificantRussiansettlements;buttothesouthwest，MexicopresentsabarriertotheAnglo—Americans。Thus，theSpaniardsandtheAnglo—Americansare，properlyspeaking，theonlytworaceswhichdividethepossessionoftheNewWorld。Thelimitsofseparationbetweenthemhavebeensettledbyatreaty;butalthoughtheconditionsofthattreatyareexceedinglyfavorabletotheAnglo—Americans，Idonotdoubtthattheywillshortlyinfringethisarrangement。Vastprovinces，extendingbeyondthefrontiersoftheUniontowardsMexico，arestilldestituteofinhabitants。ThenativesoftheUnitedStateswillforestalltherightfuloccupantsofthesesolitaryregions。Theywilltakepossessionofthesoil，andestablishsocialinstitutions，sothatwhenthelegalownerarrivesatlength，hewillfindthewildernessundercultivation，andstrangersquietlysettledinthemidstofhisinheritance。*n[Footnoten:[Thiswasspeedilyaccomplished，anderelongbothTexasandCaliforniaformedpartoftheUnitedStates。TheRussiansettlementswereacquiredbypurchase。]]
ThelandsoftheNewWorldbelongtothefirstoccupant，andtheyarethenaturalrewardoftheswiftestpioneer。Eventhecountrieswhicharealreadypeopledwillhavesomedifficultyinsecuringthemselvesfromthisinvasion。IhavealreadyalludedtowhatistakingplaceintheprovinceofTexas。TheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStatesareperpetuallymigratingtoTexas，wheretheypurchaseland;andalthoughtheyconformtothelawsofthecountry，theyaregraduallyfoundingtheempireoftheirownlanguageandtheirownmanners。TheprovinceofTexasisstillpartoftheMexicandominions，butitwillsooncontainnoMexicans;thesamethinghasoccurredwhenevertheAnglo—Americanshavecomeintocontactwithpopulationsofadifferentorigin。
ItcannotbedeniedthattheBritishracehasacquiredanamazingpreponderanceoveralltheotherEuropeanracesintheNewWorld;andthatitisverysuperiortothemincivilization，inindustry，andinpower。Aslongasitisonlysurroundedbydesertorthinlypeopledcountries，aslongasitencountersnodensepopulationsuponitsroute，throughwhichitcannotworkitsway，itwillassuredlycontinuetospread。Thelinesmarkedoutbytreatieswillnotstopit;butitwilleverywheretransgresstheseimaginarybarriers。
ThegeographicalpositionoftheBritishraceintheNewWorldispeculiarlyfavorabletoitsrapidincrease。AboveitsnorthernfrontierstheicyregionsofthePoleextend;andafewdegreesbelowitssouthernconfinesliestheburningclimateoftheEquator。TheAnglo—Americansare，therefore，placedinthemosttemperateandhabitablezoneofthecontinent。
ItisgenerallysupposedthattheprodigiousincreaseofpopulationintheUnitedStatesisposteriortotheirDeclarationofIndependence。Butthisisanerror:thepopulationincreasedasrapidlyunderthecolonialsystemasitdoesatthepresentday;thatistosay，itdoubledinabouttwenty—twoyears。Butthisproportionwhichisnowappliedtomillions，wasthenappliedtothousandsofinhabitants;andthesamefactwhichwasscarcelynoticeableacenturyago，isnowevidenttoeveryobserver。
TheBritishsubjectsinCanada，whoaredependentonaking，augmentandspreadalmostasrapidlyastheBritishsettlersoftheUnitedStates，wholiveunderarepublicangovernment。
Duringthewarofindependence，whichlastedeightyears，thepopulationcontinuedtoincreasewithoutintermissioninthesameratio。AlthoughpowerfulIndiannationsalliedwiththeEnglishexistedatthattimeuponthewesternfrontiers，theemigrationwestwardwasneverchecked。WhilsttheenemylaidwastetheshoresoftheAtlantic，Kentucky，thewesternpartsofPennsylvania，andtheStatesofVermontandofMainewerefillingwithinhabitants。NordidtheunsettledstateoftheConstitution，whichsucceededthewar，preventtheincreaseofthepopulation，orstopitsprogressacrossthewilds。Thus，thedifferenceoflaws，thevariousconditionsofpeaceandwar，oforderandofanarchy，haveexercisednoperceptibleinfluenceuponthegradualdevelopmentoftheAnglo—Americans。Thismaybereadilyunderstood;forthefactis，thatnocausesaresufficientlygeneraltoexerciseasimultaneousinfluenceoverthewholeofsoextensiveaterritory。Oneportionofthecountryalwaysoffersasureretreatfromthecalamitieswhichafflictanotherpart;andhowevergreatmaybetheevil，theremedywhichisathandisgreaterstill。
Itmustnot，then，beimaginedthattheimpulseoftheBritishraceintheNewWorldcanbearrested。ThedismembermentoftheUnion，andthehostilitieswhichmightensure，theabolitionofrepublicaninstitutions，andthetyrannicalgovernmentwhichmightsucceedit，mayretardthisimpulse，buttheycannotpreventitfromultimatelyfulfillingthedestiniestowhichthatraceisreserved。Nopoweruponearthcancloseupontheemigrantsthatfertilewildernesswhichoffersresourcestoallindustry，andarefugefromallwant。Futureevents，ofwhatevernaturetheymaybe，willnotdeprivetheAmericansoftheirclimateoroftheirinlandseas，oftheirgreatriversoroftheirexuberantsoil。Norwillbadlaws，revolutions，andanarchybeabletoobliteratethatloveofprosperityandthatspiritofenterprisewhichseemtobethedistinctivecharacteristicsoftheirrace，ortoextinguishthatknowledgewhichguidesthemontheirway。
Thus，inthemidstoftheuncertainfuture，oneeventatleastissure。Ataperiodwhichmaybesaidtobenear（forwearespeakingofthelifeofanation），theAnglo—Americanswillalonecovertheimmensespacecontainedbetweenthepolarregionsandthetropics，extendingfromthecoastsoftheAtlantictotheshoresofthePacificOcean。TheterritorywhichwillprobablybeoccupiedbytheAnglo—Americansatsomefuturetime，maybecomputedtoequalthree—quartersofEuropeinextent。*oTheclimateoftheUnionisuponthewholepreferabletothatofEurope，anditsnaturaladvantagesarenotlessgreat;itisthereforeevidentthatitspopulationwillatsomefuturetimebeproportionatetoourown。Europe，dividedasitisbetweensomanydifferentnations，andtornasithasbeenbyincessantwarsandthebarbarousmannersoftheMiddleAges，hasnotwithstandingattainedapopulationof410inhabitantstothesquareleague。*pWhatcausecanpreventtheUnitedStatesfromhavingasnumerousapopulationintime？
[Footnoteo:TheUnitedStatesalreadyextendoveraterritoryequaltoone—halfofEurope。TheareaofEuropeis500，000
squareleagues，anditspopulation205，000，000ofinhabitants。
（"MalteBrun，"liv。114。vol。vi。p。4。）
[ThiscomputationisgiveninFrenchleagues，whichwereinusewhentheauthorwrote。Twentyyearslater，in1850，thesuperficialareaoftheUnitedStateshadbeenextendedto3，306，865squaremilesofterritory，whichisabouttheareaofEurope。]]
[Footnotep:See"MalteBrun，"liv。116，vol。vi。p。92。]
ManyagesmustelapsebeforethediversoffsetsoftheBritishraceinAmericaceasetopresentthesamehomogeneouscharacteristics:andthetimecannotbeforeseenatwhichapermanentinequalityofconditionswillbeestablishedintheNewWorld。Whateverdifferencesmayarise，frompeaceorfromwar，fromfreedomoroppression，fromprosperityorwant，betweenthedestiniesofthedifferentdescendantsofthegreatAnglo—Americanfamily，theywillatleastpreserveananalogoussocialcondition，andtheywillholdincommonthecustomsandtheopinionstowhichthatsocialconditionhasgivenbirth。
IntheMiddleAges，thetieofreligionwassufficientlypowerfultoimbueallthedifferentpopulationsofEuropewiththesamecivilization。TheBritishoftheNewWorldhaveathousandotherreciprocalties;andtheyliveatatimewhenthetendencytoequalityisgeneralamongstmankind。TheMiddleAgeswereaperiodwheneverythingwasbrokenup;wheneachpeople，eachprovince，eachcity，andeachfamily，hadastrongtendencytomaintainitsdistinctindividuality。Atthepresenttimeanoppositetendencyseemstoprevail，andthenationsseemtobeadvancingtounity。Ourmeansofintellectualintercourseunitethemostremotepartsoftheearth;anditisimpossibleformentoremainstrangerstoeachother，ortobeignorantoftheeventswhicharetakingplaceinanycorneroftheglobe。Theconsequenceisthatthereislessdifference，atthepresentday，betweentheEuropeansandtheirdescendantsintheNewWorld，thantherewasbetweencertaintownsinthethirteenthcenturywhichwereonlyseparatedbyariver。Ifthistendencytoassimilationbringsforeignnationsclosertoeachother，itmustafortioripreventthedescendantsofthesamepeoplefrombecomingalienstoeachother。
ThetimewillthereforecomewhenonehundredandfiftymillionsofmenwillbelivinginNorthAmerica，*qequalincondition，theprogenyofonerace，owingtheirorigintothesamecause，andpreservingthesamecivilization，thesamelanguage，thesamereligion，thesamehabits，thesamemanners，andimbuedwiththesameopinions，propagatedunderthesameforms。Therestisuncertain，butthisiscertain;anditisafactnewtotheworld—afactfraughtwithsuchportentousconsequencesastobaffletheeffortsevenoftheimagination。
[Footnoteq:ThiswouldbeapopulationproportionatetothatofEurope，takenatameanrateof410inhabitantstothesquareleague。]
Thereare，atthepresenttime，twogreatnationsintheworldwhichseemtotendtowardsthesameend，althoughtheystartedfromdifferentpoints:IalludetotheRussiansandtheAmericans。Bothofthemhavegrownupunnoticed;andwhilsttheattentionofmankindwasdirectedelsewhere，theyhavesuddenlyassumedamostprominentplaceamongstthenations;andtheworldlearnedtheirexistenceandtheirgreatnessatalmostthesametime。
Allothernationsseemtohavenearlyreachedtheirnaturallimits，andonlytobechargedwiththemaintenanceoftheirpower;butthesearestillintheactofgrowth;*ralltheothersarestopped，orcontinuetoadvancewithextremedifficulty;theseareproceedingwitheaseandwithcelerityalongapathtowhichthehumaneyecanassignnoterm。TheAmericanstrugglesagainstthenaturalobstacleswhichopposehim;theadversariesoftheRussianaremen;theformercombatsthewildernessandsavagelife;thelatter，civilizationwithallitsweaponsanditsarts:theconquestsoftheonearethereforegainedbytheploughshare;thoseoftheotherbythesword。TheAnglo—Americanreliesuponpersonalinteresttoaccomplishhisends，andgivesfreescopetotheunguidedexertionsandcommon—senseofthecitizens;theRussiancentresalltheauthorityofsocietyinasinglearm:theprincipalinstrumentoftheformerisfreedom;ofthelatterservitude。Theirstarting—pointisdifferent，andtheircoursesarenotthesame;
yeteachofthemseemstobemarkedoutbythewillofHeaventoswaythedestiniesofhalftheglobe。
[Footnoter:RussiaisthecountryintheOldWorldinwhichpopulationincreasesmostrapidlyinproportion。]
EndofVolume1
DemocracyInAmerica，Volume2
byAlexisdeToquevilleTranslator—HenryReeveBookTwoInfluenceOfDemocracyOnProgressOfOpinionInUS
DeTocqueville’sPrefaceToTheSecondPartTheAmericansliveinademocraticstateofsociety，whichhasnaturallysuggestedtothemcertainlawsandacertainpoliticalcharacter。Thissamestateofsocietyhas，moreover，engenderedamongstthemamultitudeoffeelingsandopinionswhichwereunknownamongsttheelderaristocraticcommunitiesofEurope:ithasdestroyedormodifiedalltherelationswhichbeforeexisted，andestablishedothersofanovelkind。Theaspectofcivilsocietyhasbeennolessaffectedbythesechangesthanthatofthepoliticalworld。TheformersubjecthasbeentreatedofintheworkontheDemocracyofAmerica，whichI
publishedfiveyearsago;toexaminethelatteristheobjectofthepresentbook;butthesetwopartscompleteeachother，andformoneandthesamework。
Imustatoncewarnthereaderagainstanerrorwhichwouldbeextremelyprejudicialtome。WhenhefindsthatIattributesomanydifferentconsequencestotheprincipleofequality，hemaythenceinferthatIconsiderthatprincipletobethesolecauseofallthattakesplaceinthepresentage:butthiswouldbetoimputetomeaverynarrowview。Amultitudeofopinions，feelings，andpropensitiesarenowinexistence，whichowetheirorigintocircumstancesunconnectedwithorevencontrarytotheprincipleofequality。ThusifIweretoselecttheUnitedStatesasanexample，Icouldeasilyprovethatthenatureofthecountry，theoriginofitsinhabitants，thereligionofitsfounders，theiracquiredknowledge，andtheirformerhabits，haveexercised，andstillexercise，independentlyofdemocracy，avastinfluenceuponthethoughtsandfeelingsofthatpeople。
Differentcauses，butnolessdistinctfromthecircumstanceoftheequalityofconditions，mightbetracedinEurope，andwouldexplainagreatportionoftheoccurrencestakingplaceamongstus。
Iacknowledgetheexistenceofallthesedifferentcauses，andtheirpower，butmysubjectdoesnotleadmetotreatofthem。Ihavenotundertakentounfoldthereasonofallourinclinationsandallournotions:myonlyobjectistoshowinwhatrespectstheprincipleofequalityhasmodifiedboththeformerandthelatter。
Somereadersmayperhapsbeastonishedthat—firmlypersuadedasIamthatthedemocraticrevolutionwhichwearewitnessingisanirresistiblefactagainstwhichitwouldbeneitherdesirablenorwisetostruggle—Ishouldoftenhavehadoccasioninthisbooktoaddresslanguageofsuchseveritytothosedemocraticcommunitieswhichthisrevolutionhasbroughtintobeing。Myanswerissimply，thatitisbecauseIamnotanadversaryofdemocracy，thatIhavesoughttospeakofdemocracyinallsincerity。
Menwillnotaccepttruthatthehandsoftheirenemies，andtruthisseldomofferedtothembytheirfriends:forthisreasonIhavespokenit。Iwaspersuadedthatmanywouldtakeuponthemselvestoannouncethenewblessingswhichtheprincipleofequalitypromisestomankind，butthatfewwoulddaretopointoutfromafarthedangerswithwhichitthreatensthem。TothoseperilsthereforeIhaveturnedmychiefattention，andbelievingthatIhaddiscoveredthemclearly，Ihavenothadthecowardicetoleavethemuntold。
ItrustthatmyreaderswillfindinthisSecondPartthatimpartialitywhichseemstohavebeenremarkedintheformerwork。PlacedasIaminthemidstoftheconflictingopinionsbetweenwhichwearedivided，Ihaveendeavoredtosuppresswithinmeforatimethefavorablesympathiesortheadverseemotionswithwhicheachoftheminspiresme。Ifthosewhoreadthisbookcanfindasinglesentenceintendedtoflatteranyofthegreatpartieswhichhaveagitatedmycountry，oranyofthosepettyfactionswhichnowharassandweakenit，letsuchreadersraisetheirvoicestoaccuseme。
ThesubjectIhavesoughttoembraceisimmense，foritincludesthegreaterpartofthefeelingsandopinionstowhichthenewstateofsocietyhasgivenbirth。Suchasubjectisdoubtlessabovemystrength，andintreatingitIhavenotsucceededinsatisfyingmyself。But，ifIhavenotbeenabletoreachthegoalwhichIhadinview，myreaderswillatleastdomethejusticetoacknowledgethatIhaveconceivedandfollowedupmyundertakinginaspiritnotunworthyofsuccess。
A。DeT。
March，1840
ChapterI:PhilosophicalMethodAmongtheAmericansIthinkthatinnocountryinthecivilizedworldislessattentionpaidtophilosophythanintheUnitedStates。TheAmericanshavenophilosophicalschooloftheirown;andtheycarebutlittleforalltheschoolsintowhichEuropeisdivided，theverynamesofwhicharescarcelyknowntothem。NeverthelessitiseasytoperceivethatalmostalltheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStatesconducttheirunderstandinginthesamemanner，andgovernitbythesamerules;thatistosay，thatwithouteverhavingtakenthetroubletodefinetherulesofaphilosophicalmethod，theyareinpossessionofone，commontothewholepeople。Toevadethebondageofsystemandhabit，offamilymaxims，classopinions，and，insomedegree，ofnationalprejudices;toaccepttraditiononlyasameansofinformation，andexistingfactsonlyasalessonusedindoingotherwise，anddoingbetter;toseekthereasonofthingsforone’sself，andinone’sselfalone;totendtoresultswithoutbeingboundtomeans，andtoaimatthesubstancethroughtheform;—sucharetheprincipalcharacteristicsofwhatIshallcallthephilosophicalmethodoftheAmericans。ButifIgofurther，andifIseekamongstthesecharacteristicsthatwhichpredominatesoverandincludesalmostalltherest，Idiscoverthatinmostoftheoperationsofthemind，eachAmericanappealstotheindividualexerciseofhisownunderstandingalone。Americaisthereforeoneofthecountriesintheworldwherephilosophyisleaststudied，andwherethepreceptsofDescartesarebestapplied。Noristhissurprising。TheAmericansdonotreadtheworksofDescartes，becausetheirsocialconditiondetersthemfromspeculativestudies;buttheyfollowhismaximsbecausethisverysocialconditionnaturallydisposestheirunderstandingtoadoptthem。Inthemidstofthecontinualmovementwhichagitatesademocraticcommunity，thetiewhichunitesonegenerationtoanotherisrelaxedorbroken;everymanreadilylosesthetraceoftheideasofhisforefathersortakesnocareaboutthem。Norcanmenlivinginthisstateofsocietyderivetheirbelieffromtheopinionsoftheclasstowhichtheybelong，for，sotospeak，therearenolongeranyclasses，orthosewhichstillexistarecomposedofsuchmobileelements，thattheirbodycanneverexercisearealcontroloveritsmembers。Astotheinfluencewhichtheintelligenceofonemanhasonthatofanother，itmustnecessarilybeverylimitedinacountrywherethecitizens，placedonthefootingofageneralsimilitude，areallcloselyseenbyeachother;andwhere，asnosignsofincontestablegreatnessorsuperiorityareperceivedinanyoneofthem，theyareconstantlybroughtbacktotheirownreasonasthemostobviousandproximatesourceoftruth。Itisnotonlyconfidenceinthisorthatmanwhichisthendestroyed，butthetastefortrustingtheipsedixitofanymanwhatsoever。Everyoneshutshimselfupinhisownbreast，andaffectsfromthatpointtojudgetheworld。