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Born into a wealthy family,
Alexis de Tocqueville came to America in 1831 and traveled
throughout the nation. He found numerous
Americans volunteering, joining civic organizations and
showing concern for their fellow citizens. His
observations became the basis of his well-known two-volume
study of American politics and society, Democracy in
America.
Tocqueville expressed his
admiration for volunteers working for the common good. He
was impressed that they spent their time and money in
support of others within their communities, outside the
role of government. "When an American asks for the
cooperation of his fellow citizens," he wrote, "it is
seldom refused; and I have often seen it afforded
spontaneously and with great good will."
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