Final answer:
The statement is false; while the 'American Dream' emphasized equal opportunity, post-colonial American society was not structured to provide the highest standard of living to all Americans due to the unequal treatment of various groups and the different understanding of equality at the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
True or False: To most free Americans in the post-colonial period, "equality" meant that society should be structured in such a way so as to provide the highest standard of living to all Americans. This statement is False. The concept of equality in the post-colonial period of American history is complex and multifaceted. While the idea of the American Dream suggested that everyone should have the opportunity to improve their standard of living, this did not mean that society was structured to provide the highest standard of living to all. In practice, societal structure and attitudes did not foster equal living standards for everyone. The early United States may have embraced elements of inclusion more than other societies of the time, but equal treatment for all remained a distant goal.
Factors such as the unequal rights of women, enslaved African Americans, and indigenous peoples, demonstrate that the reality of the time did not align with an egalitarian distribution of wealth or living standards. Furthermore, during the 1830s, when most white Americans felt content with their lives, there was little challenge to the prevailing inequalities. The notion of equal opportunity differed markedly from today's understanding, often emphasizing equality of opportunity rather than outcomes.