ABSTRACT
It has long been argued that equality of opportunity prevailed in antebellum America. If wealthy men were, supposedly, self-made, it was because in this country ability ranked over privilege in accounting for success. The belief was widespread that in the United States the "'humble mechanic" had available to him "all the facilities in business and every means of winning independence which are extended only to rich mono polists in England." 1 The inequality of condition that actually charac terized American life, far from contradicting equality of opportunity, was believed to confirm and even to result from it.
