The lives between upper, middle, and lower classes are very different. Cultural capital plays a huge role in distinguishing between the economic and cultural aspects of a class. For instance, upper classes or WASPS lived in areas accessible to its influence, however, wealth was probably equally or more important in determining elite status. In urban areas, a person's family history was frequently not as significant as the financial ability to maintain the life-style that had come to be associated with the social elite. The traditional elite continually lost individual members to the middle class, either through the gradual loss of inherited wealth or through the division of estates among many heirs. Education was traditionally correlated with upper-class membership. Upper-class children received the best education in the most prestigious schools, beginning at one of the exclusive private schools and ending with a degree from one of the country's well known universities. Intellectual and professional careers, particularly in law, medicine, and journalism, were preferred by sons of the elite. .
The modern middle class had distinguished themselves from other members of society by regular employment in occupations that generally did not qualify them for membership in the elite. It consisted of self-employed small businessmen, .
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professionals, salaried employees (including office workers), other white-collar personnel, and some members of organized labor. Many only have a precarious hold on middle-class status and tended to be less concerned with imitating upper-class culture and behavior than with making enough money to sustain a middle-class life-style. The middle class are differentiated primarily on the basis of the attitudes and values they held and on their origin in the social system.
The lower class was more politically aware than the masses, although the levels of participation were uniformly low.