Final answer:
Alexis de Tocqueville admired American democracy and the culture of community involvement during his visit to the United States, yet he was concerned about the potential 'tyranny of the majority.' His observations were documented in his work 'Democracy in America,' where he discussed both the strengths and pitfalls of the democratic system.
Step-by-step explanation:
During his mid-19th-century visit to the United States, French observer Alexis de Tocqueville was deeply impressed by the American spirit of democracy and the propensity of Americans to form voluntary associations to address community concerns. In his seminal work, Democracy in America, Tocqueville noted how freedom of association was a driving force in allowing Americans to be 'public spirited' and actively involved in the pursuit of the common good. However, he also raised concerns about the 'tyranny of the majority,' where the overwhelming power of the majority could potentially oppress minorities and individuals, a negative consequence of the democratic system he observed. Overall, Tocqueville believed that democracy was a powerful and inevitable force that would have profound global implications.