Final answer:
Alexis de Tocqueville criticized the U.S. for its lack of protections against the tyranny of the majority, where the will of the majority could suppress the rights of individuals and minorities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The young French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States in the 1830s to report on American prison reforms and also to examine the broader scope of American democracy. While he marveled at the spirit of democracy and the ability of Americans to form voluntary associations for the common good, he also expressed concerns about aspects of the democratic society he observed. Tocqueville criticized the U.S. for its lack of safeguarding against the potential tyranny of the majority, which could overpower the will of minorities and individuals.
In his influential work, Democracy in America, Tocqueville explored both the strengths and perils of the American democratic experiment. Although democracy brought about equality before the law, which he viewed as a major benefit, Tocqueville also warned of the consequences of the social revolution of democracy. He identified the emergence of a potential new form of tyranny, one not imposed by a monarch but arising from the majority's ability to impose its will, thus jeopardizing individual rights and minority views.