[IronJack]

I'm not sure how industrialism, which replaced agrarian feudalism in most of Western Europe, had an adverse effect on private property rights. Under a feudal system, peasants could own NOTHING. One of the fruits of industrial capitalism was the power of the individual to earn wages, which could then be used to purchase goods and services, including property.

It also gave rise to a new industrial aristocracy, which diluted the power of the landed nobles and hereditary nobility. While few peasants managed to rise to those levels, at least some of the class lines were blurred, if not erased entirely. Look at someone like Andrew Carnegie.

America was lucky in that she emerged from British rule just as industrialization was setting in, so she had few of the feudal artifacts to shake off.

[cripplecreek]

Look at someone like Andrew Carnegie.

Good example. He came from crushing poverty to become the wealthiest man on the planet and he did big things. Granted you didn't want to get in his way but on balance much greater good was done due to his big things. He was also one of America's great philanthropists.