Democracy in America: French perspectives on Andrew Jackson’s Government in the United States in the 1830sMichel Chevalier was in the United States on an official trip, sent by the French government, at the beginning of the 1830s. There, like his contemporary Alexis de Tocqueville, he encountered intense debates around the concept of “democracy”, which was being mobilized by then-president Andrew Jackson (1829-1837). Although it exalted the “common man”, the “Jackson era” was characterized by the expansion of slavery in the Southern and Western states and a violent policy towards the Indians. This “democracy” of “white men” inspired reflection not only on politics in the American republic but also provided material for analysing European societies in the first half of the 19th century. This article therefore aims to discuss Chevalier’s interpretation of the concept of American “democracy”, without losing sight of his dialog with Tocqueville’s approaches.
Keywords:
Democracy; United States; Alexis de Tocqueville; Michel Chevalier; America