Question

what aspects of American culture in 1835 may have led alexis de tocqueville to make this claim about americans and money? “as one digs deeper into the national character of the americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world in the answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in?”

Answer 1

Alexis de Tocqueville's claim about Americans and their relationship with money stems from the 19th-century American emphasis on individualism, material success, and the rise of consumer culture, which transformed the American Dream to equate success with financial gain.

Step-by-step explanation:

Alexis de Tocqueville's observations about American culture in 1835 reflect various aspects of the nation's character. One of the critical elements of the American culture during this period was the emphasis on individualism and the pursuit of material success. Tocqueville noted that Americans valued voluntary associations for community problem solving, reflecting a sense of both self-reliance and communal responsibility. The rise of consumer culture in the 19th century also played a significant role, with increasing emphasis on pleasure and acquisition through shopping, often using credit.

Tocqueville's concerns were related to the shift from valuing land ownership and autonomy to a new definition of the American Dream focused on upward mobility and financial gain, which seemed to align with Americans measuring the value of all things by their potential monetary return. The pervasive spirit of democracy in American life signified a departure from the class rigidities of Europe, where Tocqueville was from, encouraging the belief that anyone could achieve wealth and success regardless of their origins.

Answer 2

Alexis de Tocqueville noted the shameful persistence of slavery in American culture in 1835 in his works. He acknowledged that the use of slavery, after it was abolished in Europe, for sources of cheap labor to earn more money was wrong. In his statement, he is basically saying that many Americans had depleted the value of the human beings they used as slave workers. Americans at the time cared more about money than the value of the people they were using so harshly.