Class war, typically one-sided, has a long and bitter history. At the dawn of the modern state capitalist era, Adam Smith condemned the “masters of mankind” of his day, the “merchants and manufacturers” of England, who were “by far the principal architects” of policy, and who made sure their own interests were “most peculiarly attended to” no matter how “grievous” the effect on others (primarily the victims of their “savage injustice” abroad, but much of the population of England as well).
Adam Smith deist and friend of David Hume. Class of people is an enlightenment construct. The lord, yeoman or peasant were not of differing class but status. This is measured by degrees of responsibility which accompanied land owning and title. With status came responsibility. Those of greater responsibility were to provide for those of lower status: work, education, justice, magistrate, alms for times of deprivation
