Alexis de Tocqueville was a French political thinker born in 1805 in Paris who studied at the Royal Metz College. He is best known for his works "Democracy in America" published in 1835 and 1840 which used his observations of the United States as a model for democracy. As a foreign minister in the U.S., he wrote about religious tolerance and his belief that aristocracy was not good. While opposing the Revolution of 1848, he helped form the new government but was jailed for not swearing loyalty to the new regime.

1. French Rebel Alexis de Tocqueville Anna Navarrete

2. Alexis de Tocqueville

3. Early life Born in Paris on July 29, 1805. Came from an old Norman family. Studied at age 16 in Royal Metz College

4. Writings Democracy in America Volume 1 in 1835 and Volume 2 in 1840. The U.S. Penitentiary System and its Application in France with Gustave de Beaumont in 1833. The Old Regime and The Revolution in 1856.

5. Place in the Enlightenment He had religious tolerance. He believed that aristocracy was not a good thing. He was a foreign minister in the U.S. Wrote “Democracy in America” using the U.S. government as a political model.

6. Most Interesting Fact He opposed the Revolution of 1848, but he helped form the new Government. He was in jail because he didn’t swear loyalty to the new regime.