Alexis de Tocqueville

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) was a French historian who visited the early United States in 1831, at the age of 25, and made observations, in his book, Democracy in America, still considered deep and insightful about the formation of American government. He also wrote Ancien Regime about the traditions of his native country.

American exceptionalism
He originated the term American exceptionalism, calling the United States  "...qualitatively different from all other countries," and based on the values of that creed as liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and laissez-faire economics. Not all agree with his principles, especially egalitarianism.

Social capital
While he does not seem to have used the specific term social capital, he observed "'it was the Americans' propensity for civic association that most impressed him as the key to their unprecedented ability to make democracy work. Americans of all ages, all stations in life, and all types of disposition," he observed, "are forever forming associations.'"