Consider de Tocqueville’s five values: liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and laissez-faire. Which values were shared by de Tocqueville and Jackson, and which were not? Identify which of these values were shared by both men and which were held by de Tocqueville only.

Answer 1

De Tocqueville and Jackson shared the values of populism and individualism. Both men believed in the power of the common people and the importance of individual rights and freedoms.

However, de Tocqueville's values of liberty, egalitarianism, and laissez-faire were not necessarily shared by Jackson. While both men valued liberty, de Tocqueville placed a greater emphasis on the importance of individual rights and freedoms, as well as the idea of a limited government that allows for personal autonomy. Jackson, on the other hand, was more focused on expanding the power of the executive branch and promoting the interests of the common man, even at the expense of individual rights and liberties.

Egalitarianism, the belief in equality for all individuals, was a value that de Tocqueville espoused but was not as central to Jackson's ideology. Similarly, laissez-faire, the belief in minimal government intervention in economic affairs, was a value that de Tocqueville supported but was not a focus of Jackson's policies, as he sometimes used government power to promote economic interests and enact policies that benefited certain groups over others.