This concept of equal opportunity to succeed is a basic idea in capitalism, the economic system of the United States. Social classes or levels are not permanently established. The terms upper class or class person has been wealthy for a long time. There are no king, queens, or other royalty in the United States, and a person’s background is not as important as that person’s position now. Perhaps because the United states is a country of immigrants, people who often had very little when they arrived in the country. Americans value the ability to go “from rags to riches”