The origin of "citizenship" lies in the recognition of bourgeois political rights.The legal status of citizenship is also compatible with the misery and delinquency of a part of the population: the marginalised people do not really enjoy civil, political and social rights.In this way, citizenship has been a palliative measure to conceal the social turmoil produced by class inequality during the repeated crises of capitalism.Tocqueville's reconsideration is a central issue in the defence of political freedom facing an emerging liberal democracy.Thus, Tocqueville's rigour towards the poor and the criminals coexists with a critical defence of citizens' freedom against the homogenization and the discipline of the industrial masses.