Literature Lesson Plans - Sykalo Eugen 2024

Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville

Subject: History, Political Science, Government (can be adapted)

Grade Level: 11-12 (due to complexity of text)

Time Allotment: 4-6 weeks (depending on depth of study)

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to understand the historical context of Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America."
Students will be able to identify key observations and insights from de Tocqueville regarding American democracy.
Students will be able to analyze de Tocqueville's perspectives on American society, culture, and political institutions.
Students will be able to evaluate the enduring relevance of de Tocqueville's observations in the contemporary United States.
Students will be able to compare and contrast de Tocqueville's views with other political thinkers.

Materials:

Excerpts from Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" (focusing on key themes like individualism, equality, majority rule, religion, civic engagement)
Whiteboard/Projector
Markers/Pens
Chart paper or handout for note-taking
Copies of handouts comparing de Tocqueville with other thinkers (optional)
Access to online resources (optional)

Lesson Procedures:

Week 1: Introduction and Context

Brainstorming: Begin by asking students what they think are the defining characteristics of American democracy. Write their responses on the board.
Historical Context: Briefly introduce Alexis de Tocqueville and the historical context in which he wrote "Democracy in America" (1830s, early American democracy, rise of Jacksonian democracy). Discuss why he undertook this study.

Weeks 2-3: De Tocqueville's America

Reading and Analyzing: Divide students into small groups and distribute excerpts from both Volume I and Volume II, focusing on different themes (individualism, equality, majority rule, religion, civic engagement). Each group analyzes their assigned passage, identifying key observations and taking notes.
Class Discussions: Facilitate class discussions after each reading section. Encourage students to analyze de Tocqueville's observations and consider their validity. Did he accurately assess American society?
Strengths and Weaknesses: Explore de Tocqueville's views on the strengths and weaknesses of American democracy. How did he perceive the potential dangers of majority rule or extreme individualism?

Week 4: Enduring Relevance

Then vs. Now: Divide the class into pairs and assign them a specific theme from de Tocqueville's observations (e.g., role of religion, civic engagement). Each pair researches how this theme has played out in American history and analyzes its relevance in the contemporary United States.
Debate: Organize a class debate on a relevant question related to de Tocqueville's observations. For example: "Has the American spirit of individualism become too strong?" or "Does de Tocqueville's fear of the 'tyranny of the majority' still hold true today?"

Week 5: Comparative Analysis

Think-Pair-Share: Provide students with a handout comparing de Tocqueville's views with another political thinker (e.g., John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau). Students work individually, then discuss their findings in pairs before sharing with the class.
Guest Speaker (Optional): Invite a political science professor or historian to speak to the class about the ongoing influence of de Tocqueville's work on American political thought.

Week 6 (Optional):

Research Project: Students can choose a specific theme or concept from "Democracy in America" and conduct further research. They can then present their findings to the class, analyzing its contemporary significance.
Essay Writing: Students write an essay analyzing a specific aspect of de Tocqueville's observations and evaluating their continued relevance in a chosen area of American life (e.g., social movements, political participation)

Differentiation:

Provide scaffolding and support for struggling readers with pre-reading activities, simplified excerpts, or audiobooks.
Offer extension activities for advanced readers, such as researching specific historical events de Tocqueville references or exploring the works of other relevant thinkers.
Modify assignments to cater to different learning styles (e.g., visual learners can create concept maps)

Assessment: