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ey are not always acquainted with the means of turning her gifts to account。 Other peoples of America have the same physical conditions of prosperity as the Anglo…Americans； but without their laws and their manners； and these peoples are wretched。 The laws and manners of the Anglo…Americans are therefore that efficient cause of their greatness which is the object of my inquiry。
I am far from supposing that the American laws are preeminently good in themselves； I do not hold them to be applicable to all democratic peoples； and several of them seem to be dangerous； even in the United States。 Nevertheless； it cannot be denied that the American legislation； taken collectively； is extremely well adapted to the genius of the people and the nature of the country which it is intended to govern。 The American laws are therefore good； and to them must be attributed a large portion of the success which attends the government of democracy in America： but I do not believe them to be the principal cause of that success； and if they seem to me to have more influence upon the social happiness of the Americans than the nature of the country； on the other hand there is reason to believe that their effect is still inferior to that produced by the manners of the people。
The Federal laws undoubtedly constitute the most important part of the legislation of the United States。 Mexico； which is not less fortunately situated than the Anglo…American Union； has adopted the same laws； but is unable to accustom itself to the government of democracy。 Some other cause is therefore at work； independently of those physical circumstances and peculiar laws which enable the democracy to rule in the United States。
Another still more striking proof may be adduced。 Almost all the inhabitants of the territory of the Union are the descendants of a common stock； they speak the same language； they worship God in the same manner； they are affected by the same physical causes； and they obey the same laws。 Whence； then； do their characteristic differences arise？ Why； in the Eastern States of the Union； does the republican government display vigor and regularity； and proceed with mature deliberation？ Whence does it derive the wisdom and the durability which mark its acts； whilst in the Western States； on the contrary； society seems to be ruled by the powers of chance？ There； public business is conducted with an irregularity and a passionate and feverish excitement； which does not announce a long or sure duration。
I am no longer comparing the Anglo…American States to foreign nations； but I am contrasting them with each other； and endeavoring to discover why they are so unlike。 The arguments which are derived from the nature of the country and the difference of legislation are here all set aside。 Recourse must be had to some other cause； and what other cause can there be except the manners of the people？
It is in the Eastern States that the Anglo…Americans have been longest accustomed to the government of democracy； and that they have adopted the habits and conceived the notions most favorable to its maintenance。 Democracy has gradually penetrated into their customs； their opinions； and the forms of social intercourse； it is to be found in all the details of daily life equally as in the laws。 In the Eastern States the instruction and practical education of the people have been most perfected； and religion has been most thoroughly amalgamated with liberty。 Now these habits； opinions； customs； and convictions are precisely the constituent elements of that which I have denominated manners。
In the Western States； on the contrary； a portion of the same advantages is still wanting。 Many of the Americans of the West were born in the woods； and they mix the ideas and the customs of savage life with the civilization of their parents。 Their passions are more intense； their religious morality less authoritative； and their convictions less secure。 The inhabitants exercise no sort of control over their fellow…citizens； for they are scarcely acquainted with each other。 The nations of the West display； to a certain extent； the inexperience and the rude habits of a people in its infancy； for although they are composed of old elements； their assemblage is of recent date。
The manners of the Americans of the United States are； then； the real cause which renders that people the only one of the American nations that is able to support a democratic government； and it is the influence of manners which produces the different degrees of order and of prosperity that may be distinguished in the several Anglo…American democracies。 Thus the effect which the geographical position of a country may have upon the duration of democratic institutions is exaggerated in Europe。 Too much importance is attributed to legislation； too little to manners。 These three great causes serve； no doubt； to regulate and direct the American democracy； but if they were to be classed in their proper order； I should say that the physical circumstances are less efficient than the laws； and the laws very subordinate to the manners of the people。 I am convinced that the most advantageous situation and the best possible laws cannot maintain a constitution in spite of the manners of a country； whilst the latter may turn the most unfavorable positions and the worst laws to some advantage。 The importance of manners is a common truth to which study and experience incessantly direct our attention。 It may be regarded as a central point in the range of human observation； and the common termination of all inquiry。 So seriously do I insist upon this head； that if I have hitherto failed in making the reader feel the important influence which I attribute to the practical experience； the habits； the opinions； in short； to the manners of the Americans； upon the maintenance of their institutions； I have failed in the principal object of my work。
Whether Laws And Manners Are Sufficient To Maintain Democratic Institutions In Other Countries Besides America
The Anglo…Americans； if transported into Europe； would be obliged to modify their laws … Distinction to be made between democratic institutions and American institutions … Democratic laws may be conceived better than； or at least different from； those which the American democracy has adopted … The example of America only proves that it is possible to regulate democracy by the assistance of manners and legislation。
I have asserted that the success of democratic institutions in the United States is more intimately connected with the laws themselves； and the manners of the people； than with the nature of the country。 But does it follow that the same causes would of themselves produce the same results； if they were put into operation elsewhere； and if the country is no adequate substitute for laws and manners； can laws and manners in their turn prove a substitute for the country？ It will readily be understood that the necessary elements of a reply to this question are wanting： other peoples are to be found in the New World besides the Anglo… Americans； and as these people are affected by the same physical circumstances as the latter； they may fairly b