Democracy in America, published in 1835 and 1840, challenged conventional thinking about democracy when it first appeared and is still cited today for its in-depth analysis of what makes a successful democracy. Having witnessed negative effects of democratic revolutions in his native France, Tocqueville visited America in 1831 to see how a democracy could avoid having its citizens become too dependent on the state or developing a "The Tyranny of the Majority" effectively silencing the voices of minorities. By examining America, Tocqueville discovered that imposed limits on government control, an independent judiciary, and dynamic citizenry contributed to a healthy democratic state.