Final answer:
Dominance by planter aristocrats was viewed as an affront to democracy because it concentrated power in the hands of a select few and contradicted the ideal of an egalitarian system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dominance by planter aristocrats was viewed as an affront to democracy. During the antebellum years, wealthy southern planters formed an elite class that held most of the economic and political power. They defended the system of forced labor which was essential for their economic survival and lifestyles. Their dominance challenged democratic ideals because it concentrated power in the hands of a few rather than promoting an egalitarian system where power was more evenly distributed.
The student's question on dominance by planter aristocrats highlights issues of economic inequality and the conflict between the interests of the elite and democratic principles. Historical discussions on political system design often reference the ideas of social ownership versus protection of private property, showing a continuum of philosophical thought from socialism to the founders' view of restricted suffrage based on property ownership.