Niall Ferguson's exploration of American and French civil society raises critical questions about the strengths of democracy in each nation. Tocqueville suggested that America's decentralized structure afforded its democracy a unique resilience compared to the more centralized French state. This decentralization arguably made it less susceptible to authoritarian figures, such as Napoleon, who rose in response to France's political challenges.

However, the inquiry into the durability of the U.S. Constitution prompts reflection on its potential vulnerability. Had the United States faced the same rigorous military and economic pressures that dismantled the French Constitution of 1791, it is uncertain whether American democracy could have withstood the test. This comparison invites a deeper consideration of the factors that contribute to the robustness of democratic institutions in different historical contexts.