Essay 34: The Majority In The United States Is All-Powerful And The Consequences Of That (Vol. 1 Pt. 2 Ch. 7, Subchs. 4-6)

Essay Read by Constituting America Founder, Actress Janine Turner

The essays in our study reference the following edition of Democracy In America: University of Chicago Press – 1st edition translated by Harvey Mansfield and Delba Winthrop. Today’s essay references pages 243 (start at “On the Power that the Majority..” heading) – 249 of this edition of Democracy in America.

Democracy in America: The All-Powerful Majority

In De Tocqueville’s masterpiece, Democracy in America, De Tocqueville discusses at length what he terms the “omnipotence of the majority” found in democracies and how that all-powerful force is one of the greatest threats to liberty and freedom, the twin pillars of a democratic form of government.

It seems a contradiction that the greatest blessing of a democracy, the rule of the majority instead of the one or the few, should also hold in it the most likely place wherein lies the seeds for the possible destruction of democracy. But, as De Tocqueville points out, that is very much the case.

As De Tocqueville asks, “What is a majority, in its collective capacity, if not an individual with opinions, and usually with interests, contrary to those of another individual, called the minority? Now, if you admit that a man vested with omnipotence can abuse it against his adversaries, why not admit the same concerning a majority?”

De Tocqueville goes on to argue that this omnipotence can easily, and perhaps naturally, lead to abuse, one he terms the “tyranny of the majority.” Because they are the many against the few, the majority assumes a type of moral authority over society and woe be to him that questions this power. Where can he who confronts the majority turn for help? The executive is elected by the majority, and the legislature is as well. The police are, in De Tocqueville’s term, simply “the majority under arms.”

This all-powerful influence extends beyond the laws and the customs of a country; it even has a telling effect on the thoughts of its citizens. De Tocqueville argues that once the majority has determined what is “right,” all who oppose that opinion become outcasts of society.

In an example, De Tocqueville pictures an official telling someone out of step with the majority that “You are free not to think as I do; your life, your goods, everything remains to you; but from this day on you are a stranger to us…When you approach those like you, they shall flee you as being impure; and those who believe in your innocence, even they shall abandon you, for one would flee them in their turn. Go in peace. I leave you your life, but I leave it to you worse than death.”

Because the majority is insulated from the criticism, it lives in a state of “perpetual adoration of itself,” failing to ever conceive that they may be wrong. This develops into arrogance within the majority who begin to see their fellow citizens not as equals with a different outlook but rather as deplorable beings incapable of redemption.

The omnipotence of the majority also has a profound effect on our national character by encouraging the “spirit of the court,” that demeaning characteristic in which men crawl before others in positions of power to curry their favor. While that dehumanizing trait is typically the hallmark of a small cadre of nobility within an absolute monarchy, De Tocqueville argues that the courtier spirit is even more prevalent within a democracy where the many are within reach of the pinnacle of power, therefore making demeaning servility much more common place.

De Tocqueville concludes this discussion by stating that the greatest danger for American republics comes from the omnipotence of the majority. He writes, “If ever freedom is lost in America, one will have to blame the omnipotence of the majority.”

In laymen’s terms, De Tocqueville is cautioning that the minority in this country will only take so much before it pushes back, and that push back will be most unpleasant. This closing warning is ominous and one that today’s “thought-police” in America would be wise to recognize.

Tom Hand is the visionary behind Americana Corner, an organization dedicated to sharing compelling narratives of significant events, influential leaders, and foundational documents that have shaped the United States. Since 2020, Tom has written and produced over 200 articles and videos, aiming to rekindle Americans’ patriotic spirit and remind them of the nation’s remarkable legacy. Beyond his creative work, Tom established the Preserving America Grant and Partners programs, donating millions to support history organizations nationwide. All proceeds from his book, “An American Triumph: America’s Founding Era through the Lives of Ben Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams,” support these programs. His unwavering dedication to promoting patriotism and preserving America’s heritage makes him an invaluable advocate for the Great American Story.

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