Alex de Tocqueville view on the United States (please read the details before bidding)

Now, here is important information on the 2nd course paper, which is NOT a research project. As it says on the syllabus this is to be based upon your reaction to a historical statement I would give you, Now, here we go: under the Learning Content tab, I have placed a very interesting comparison of the growing US and growing Russian Empire by the French writer Alex de Toqueville, from his famous 1830s book Democracy in America. In this paragraph, he makes some statements comparing the growth process of these 2 vast nations. I know none of us here is an expert in Russian history, so the point is not to look too deeply at what he says about Russia. The point is to read carefully what he says about how the US has grown and developed up to that time; and, based upon what you have seen in the course, evaluate how true his statements are; his statements that say the growth of the US has been by plow rather than sword, by individuals rather than government actions, freedom rather than servitude, and so forth. Use examples from our readings, discussions, notes. The point is not just to say, broadly, that de Toqueville is correct or not; the point is also to discuss the nuances. Is he partially correct in some ways? Alex de Toqueville, from Democracy in America, 1840 “There are now two great nations in the world which, starting from different points, seem to be advancing toward the same goal: the Russians and the Anglo-Americans. Both have grown in obscurity, and while the world’s attention was occupied elsewhere, they have suddenly taken their place among the leading nations… All other peoples seem to have nearly reached their natural limits and to need nothing but to preserve them; but these two are growing…. The American fights against natural obstacles; the Russian (fights)with men. The (American) combats the wilderness and barbarism; the (Russian), civilization with all its arms.America’s conquests are made with the plowshare, Russia’s with the sword. To attain their aims, the(American) relies on personal interest and gives free scope to the unguided strength and common sense of individuals. The (Russian) in a sense concentrates the whole power of society in one man. Onehasfreedom as the principal means of action; the other has servitude. Their point of departure is different and their paths diverse; nevertheless, each seems called by some secret desire of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the world.”