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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. De Tocqueville believes that the democratic writer has less to write about, but the writings are ________, when compared to aristocratic writings.
(a) Of greater volume.
(b) Of greater subjects.
(c) Of greater importance.
(d) Of greater need.

2. What is one of the branches of government?
(a) Legislative.
(b) House of Representatives.
(c) Senate.
(d) President.

3. How long did de Tocqueville stay in the united States?
(a) Six months.
(b) A year and a half.
(c) One year.
(d) Nine months.

4. American settlers imported most of their technical language from where?
(a) Asia.
(b) Canada.
(c) Europe.
(d) France.

5. Instead of being driven by man, events--according to a democratic writer--are driven by what?
(a) Providence or irresistible forces.
(b) Providence or sheer necessity.
(c) Fate or sheer necessity.
(d) Fate or irresistable forces.

6. What is one of the best safeguards against potential tyranny of the majority in America?
(a) The judicial system.
(b) The media.
(c) The press.
(d) The balance of power.

7. Before the American Revolution, what were the two great political parties?
(a) The Federalist and the Anti-Federalist parties.
(b) The Federalist and the Republican parties.
(c) The Federalist and the State parties.
(d) The Federalist and the Democratic parties.

8. The people in a democracy instinctively acknowledge that the interest of the many is more valuable than that of whom?
(a) A privileged few.
(b) A small but active minority.
(c) The wealthy.
(d) The monarchy.

9. Democracy is a catalyst for what?
(a) Industry.
(b) Change.
(c) Material wealth.
(d) Economic growth.

10. What deals with the affairs of the people and is bound to be turbulent and uncertain?
(a) Society.
(b) Community.
(c) Politics.
(d) Religion.

11. In de Tocqueville's observations, what is something the federal government is allowed to do?
(a) Manage education.
(b) Tax.
(c) Manage health care.
(d) Create infrastructure.

12. Politically, the New World has never experienced what?
(a) Republics.
(b) Social change.
(c) Democracy.
(d) Anarchy.

13. The balancing act that the three branches of government perform on each other is referred to as what?
(a) Federalism.
(b) Opposing powers.
(c) Checks and balances.
(d) Freedom from tyranny.

14. What feeds on ignorance, according to the Puritans' religious views?
(a) Aristocracy.
(b) Democracy.
(c) The devil.
(d) Stupidity.

15. Religion and politics do what, in American life?
(a) Occupy their own space.
(b) Influence each other.
(c) Share similar characteristics.
(d) Occupy similar space.

Short Answer Questions

1. De Tocqueville compares equality to what weapon?

2. Democratic regimes value prosperity over what?

3. What type of regime did de Tocqueville study in America?

4. In what does de Tocqueville say American writers find poetry?

5. American literature is made up of the two extremes of what, according to de Tocqueville?

(see the answer keys)

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