How did developments in France influence the later volumes of Democracy in America?

As Alexis de Tocqueville composed the final portion of Democracy in America (published in 1840), his focus shifted from American society to the political developments occurring in France. Observing the state of his home country significantly altered the tone of his work, leading to a more sober analysis.1

Specifically, Tocqueville was troubled by the actions of the Liberals who had risen to power following the July Revolution of 1830. He observed their curtailment of civil liberties and the increasing intervention of the state in economic affairs. Most concerning to him was the growing political apathy among his fellow citizens and their acquiescence to this rising paternalism.1

These observations directly informed his warnings regarding democratic individualism and centralization. In the later volumes, he argued that a "mild, stagnant despotism" posed the greatest threat to a democratic society, a conclusion drawn largely from the political climate he witnessed in France rather than his earlier observations of the United States.1