Courtney Stevens

History 2700
The documents The Tyranny of the Majority, The Rise of an Industrial
Aristocracy, and Defining of the Constitutional Limits of Slavery, analyze the
inherent flaws of democracy in the early 19th century, and claim that true freedom
would collapse if it remained unchecked. The Tyranny of the Majority makes the
claim that people in majorities took away the democratic freedom of minorities to
control how the country functions. The Rise of an Industrial Aristocracy by Alexis de
Tocqueville, uses middle and lower class industrial workers who were exploited by
higher-power business executives with more political influence as an example of the
flawed democratic system. The last document, Defining the Constitutional Limits of
Slavery by Salmon P Chase, builds on this argument by claiming that slavery
promoted a tyrannical government. Slaves had no voice in how the country
functioned, unlike their tyrannical slaveholders. All of these documents express their
concerns with American democracy, and argue that changes needed to occur in
order for America to be successful.

The first document, Tyranny of the Majority, explores the concept of rule of the majority.
It explains that people in a majority would have the strongest hold on the government. Their
combined influence was comparable to a tyranny and any majority combined together could
exploit the minority and place themselves at the top of the political hierarchy. The article states,
Now, if you accept that one man vested with omnipotence can abuse it against his adversaries,
why not accept the same this for the majority? The flaw of democracy is that majority has the
potential to be just as destructive as one corrupt man. The minorities will be given little, if any
voice in America due to the majority rule system. The document claims that this creates a gap
within society which will develop into anarchy if not addressed. This inherent flaw within
democracy is the focal point of his argument as the author says, If ever freedom is lost in
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Courtney Stevens
History 2700

America, one will have to blame the omnipotence of the majority. The author was giving
caution to the readers, claiming that change needed to happen, or they would lose their freedom.
For the country to be successful they had to find a way to check the powers of the majority.
The Rise of an Industrial Aristocracy by Alexis de Tocqueville described the growing gap
between the rich and the laboring poor. This gap is due to the rising industry in America, and it
has a dangerous effect on the government. Those at the top of the industry, were also at the top of
political power. By being at the top they had more influence, and more control of the new
country. Below them were the factory workers, who had very little skills due to their factory life.
The uneducated workers were exploited by the industry officials. Workers were limited greatly in
the factories and had little chance of political or social upward movement. The elements that
form the class of the poor are nearly fixed; but the elements that compose the class of the rich are
not. Industry owners became like tyrants, controlling not just their workers, but also the
government. They showed almost no care for their workers, and could destroy democracy by
exploiting flaws and loopholes in the system. If ever permanent inequality of conditions and
aristocracy are introduced anew into the world, one can predict that they will enter by this door.
The author is stating that if these conditions were to go unchecked it would destroy democracy
and be replaced by a new form of tyrannical government.
Finally, Salmon Chase in Defining the Constitutional Limits of Slavery claims that
slavery will lead to Despotism. Slavery created a government complacent to tyrannical reign.
Slaves were not considered to have a political voice, and therefore had no say in the countrys
future. These people were ruled by others, defeating the idea of a democracy. Chase says, If it
goes on, the spirit of liberty must at a length become extinct. Slavery is dangerous, not only

Courtney Stevens
History 2700

because it is unethical, but it defies what a democracy is. In a country where everyone has a
voice, there were slaves who had no voice. It was the institution of Slavery and a lack of true
freedom that was condemning America to collapse. Tyranny reigns where freedom should be. A
despotism will be established under the forms of free institutions Chase was trying to make a
statement to the public that if they continued down the destructive path of slavery, they would
entirely lose their freedom. However, if they made a change to the system, the people could save
their democracy.
Each of these documents makes strong arguments about the status and future of America.
The public and politicians alike might have read these documents, and were inspired to create
social change throughout the country. Movements like Slavery were abolished, steps were taken
to protect workers rights, and the government has passed laws to protect minorities. These social
reforms were the first steps in creating a better democracy. Each author hoped to influence
change in America, and does so by expressing the major flaws of democracy in their documents.
To truly achieve democracy Americans must challenge the issues and make the changes that will
improve the country.

Courtney Stevens
History 2700

Work Cited

Chase, S. P. (1850). Union and freedom, without compromise. Speech of Mr.

Chase, of Ohio, on Mr. Clay's compromise resolutions. Washington: Printed

by Buell & Blanchard.

Foner, E. (2014). Give me liberty!: An American history. New York: W.W.

Norton & Company.

Tocqueville, A. D., Bradley, P., Reeve, H., & Bowen, F. (1945). Democracy in

America. New York: A.A. Knopf.

Tyranny of the Majority (1830)