The Early Nationalization of Political News In America

In: Studies in American political development: SAPD, Band 1, S. 255-278

Abstract

When Alexis de Tocqueville toured America in the 1830s, he found Washington occupying a lowly position in the political life of the country. In a footnote, Democracy in America informs the European reader, "America has no great capital city where direct or indirect influence is felt over the whole extent of the country." Throughout the book, he expands on the effects of this decentralization. And we may fairly suspect that as much as any other, this observation led de Tocqueville to concentrate his inquiry on the performance of democracy in communities across the country.