First, let's deal with our terms...
Before we begin our journey into a brief history of Boston's elite institutions in the nineteenth century, we need to define our terms. As you go through the next pages, keep the terms exclusion, merit, and meritocracy in mind. You will also find a definition of bourgeoisie.
exclusion
Exclusion is the act and practice of excluding. We are concerned with both the literal meaning and the broader context of social exclusion. An individual can be excluded from all kinds of things for any number of reasons. Social exclusion in the United States is generally manifested through racism and class- and gender-based oppression.
meritocracy
Meritocracy can be defined as a system of advancement based on individual ability or achievement. In other words, if a person receives various merits, he or she has the possbility of social mobility, of movement into a different (usually "better") social position. A meritocracy is also understood to be a government or administrative system in which a group of people hold power on the basis of merit--rather than class, gender, and skin color. The term "natural aristocracy," though note quite the same, is a close relation.
merit
Merit is a demonstrated ability or achievement or an aspect of character or behavior deserving approval, reward, or even disapproval. The issue that concerns us most is who decides what is meritable--which makes it a question of power--and the different kinds of institutional access that merit facilitates. Most people in the United States experience merit within the family, through the educational system, and in the workplace.
bourgeoisie
The bourgeoisie is a social class comprised of people who own vast amounts wealth; who do not engage in manual labor; and do not work for wages. They are the economic elite and their families. They are capitalists. Bourgeois is a modifier of many words but especially culture as a means to emphasize the distinct culture of the bourgeoisie.