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Third Tuesday of each Month
Third Tuesday of each Month
10:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
288 Old Sudbury Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776
288 Old Sudbury Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776
Democracy in America Reading Club
Democracy in America Reading Club
Join us as we dive into Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America—a timeless work that still sparks big questions about democracy, equality, and liberty today. Written in 1835, Tocqueville’s observations offer us a chance to see American culture through fresh eyes and compare his insights with our own experiences.
When & Where
We gather on the third Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the 2nd floor conference room at the Sudbury History Center & Museum.
Upcoming Discussions
October 21: Tocqueville’s definitions of democracy, equality, and liberty. (Readings provided—email us for a copy!*)
November 18: TBA
December 16: No meeting this month—enjoy the holidays!
January 20: TBA (Exciting news about a new meeting location coming soon!)
For the remainder of the year, we will take a closer look at Tocqueville’s language and ideas. Together, we’ll define what he meant by democracy, equality, and liberty—concepts that can feel familiar today but carried very particular meanings in the early 19th century. We’ll also consider how these principles shaped American society at the time, and how Tocqueville believed they could strengthen—or sometimes undermine—one another. Our discussions will not only highlight his observations but also invite us to compare them with our own lived experiences, sparking thoughtful conversations about the promises and challenges of democratic life in every era.
These conversations are open to all—no background in history or political theory needed. Just bring your curiosity, your perspective, and your voice for a lively, thoughtful exchange.
*Please email us at athina.ed@gmail.com for the reading.
Resources
Resources
Tocqueville: Democracy in America (In Our Time BBC Podcast)
About Alexis de Tocqueville (Britannica)
Retracing the Steps of Alexis de Tocqueville's 1831 Journey (C-SPAN)
"Beginning in May 1997, the C-SPAN School Bus retraced the steps of Alexis de Tocqueville, author of Democracy in America, who traveled throughout the U.S. in 1831 with his friend, Gustave de Beaumont. Starting in Newport, RI, the bus explored the eastern half of the U.S. Over 9 months, the Bus made 55 stops along Tocqueville's route and discussed the same issues he raised -- issues such as religion and politics, the impact and power of the press and the changing role of government." (C-SPAN description)
"DREAM ON investigates the perilous state of the American Dream after decades of rising income inequality and declining economic mobility. In an epic road trip, political comedian John Fugelsang retraces the journey of Alexis de Tocqueville, whose study of our young country in 1831 came to define America as a place where anyone, of any background, could climb the ladder of economic opportunity." (PBS description)
Journey to America by Alexis de Tocqueville, translated by George Lawrence, edited by J. P. Mayer (1959)
Tocqueville’s travel diary chronicling his 1831–1832 visit to the United States. Tocqueville records observations of American society, politics, religion, and daily life. The diary reveals his evolving thoughts and provides valuable insight into the development of his ideas on democracy, equality, and liberty.
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