Editing Democracy in America (section)

===Federal constitution===
Tocqueville believed that the Puritans established the principle of sovereignty of the people in the [[Fundamental Orders of Connecticut]]. The [[American Revolution]] then popularized this principle, followed by the [[Constitutional Convention of 1787]], which developed institutions to manage popular will. While Tocqueville speaks highly of the [[U.S. Constitution]], he believes that the mores, or "habits of mind" of the American people play a more prominent role in the protection of freedom. These include:{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

* Township democracy
* Mores, laws, and circumstances
* [[Tyranny of the majority]]
* Religion and beliefs
* The family
* [[Individualism]]
* Associations
* Self-interest rightly understood
* [[Economic materialism|Materialism]]