Historical Context of American Meritocracy

The concept of meritocracy in America has evolved significantly from the late 19th century through the early 20th century. Initially, success was often attributed to social breeding, particularly favoring white, Protestant male descendants of Mayflower families, rather than academic excellence. This system favored legacy admissions in elite institutions like Harvard, where familial connections outweighed academic merit. This dominance of bloodlines began to shift with changes in societal values around the 1930s, reflecting a broader struggle over the definition of merit and the qualities considered valuable for leadership.