Chapter 7 - The Culture of Democracy

The Culture of Democracy

• Tocqueville believed a democratic regime would influence every aspect of life, including culture, morals, and spirituality.
• The partnership between Protestantism and Enlightenment rationalism was starting to weaken, with individuals gravitating towards more rational and progressive forms of Christianity like Deism and Unitarianism.
• Deism and Unitarianism emphasized reason, God's unity, the inherent goodness of humanity, and the capacity for self-improvement through reason and education.
• The emergence of new religious communities like Mormons, Rappites, Shakers, and Oneida Community reflected the social changes and individualistic tendencies prevalent in the early 19th century.
• The religious communities often emphasized communal living, reforms, and societal transformation through personal actions.
• Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" played a significant role in shaping public opinion on slavery, influencing the abolitionist movement.
• The novel's emotional impact and depiction of slavery's brutality on both enslaved and slaveholders exposed the institution's moral flaws.
• Several Americans questioned if the United States could develop a unique cultural identity separate from its colonial influences, particularly in the sphere of high culture, including literature, arts, and drama.
• Tocqueville observed a lack of original cultural expressions in America, predicting that democracy would lead to mediocre, commercially driven literature.
• Walt Whitman emerged as a prominent literary figure, representing the spirit of Jacksonian America and celebrating the inherent democratic values, as opposed to the elite, more European-inspired sensibilities.
• Whitman's work, like "Leaves of Grass", embraced all aspects of reality, from the everyday experiences of working-class individuals to the more refined elements of society.
• Whitman's poetry deviated from traditional forms and employed vernacular language, challenging artistic norms.
• Despite some initial resistance, Whitman's contributions are recognized as expressions of the emerging democratic culture.
• D.H. Lawrence, a British writer and critic, viewed Whitman's literary work as a reflection of the open road, symbolizing freedom and self-discovery.