Watch the Khan video about feudalism, the economic system that preceded capitalism. Read the De Tocqueville excerpts (sorry they’re not in one file); it’s just a few pages. As a Frenchman in the mid-19th century, De Tocqueville lived in a society (his “cave”!) that still had many characteristics of feudalism. When he toured the U.S. and wrote about his observations, he focused on aspects of the U.S. that combined democratic and increasingly capitalist characteristics. THINK ABOUT the points De Tocqueville made.
In your first post, summarize particularly his points about social mobility, the role of work and money, and the potential danger of a new aristocracy developing. Then, comment on how applicable his observations are today, based on YOUR experience and observations.