Why is Intellect Distributed Unequally in America?

       "Of course, a multitude of persons are to be found who entertain the same number of ideas on religion, history, science, political economy, legislation, and government.  The gifts of intellect proceed directly from God, and man cannot prevent their unequal distribution.  But it is at least a consequence of what we have just said, that although the capacities of men are different, as the Creator intended they should be, Americans find the means of putting them to use are equal" (55).
                                           --Alexis De Tocqueville's Democracy in America
         Tocqueville seem to blame the inequality of intellect (and consequently wealth) on God -- that God presents certain individuals with more gifts of intellect than others. Yet, he finishes this paragraph by saying that Americans figure out how to use their unequal intellect in an equal way.  So even though he admits there is inequality of intellect, he claims that this can be overcome.
        If it were up to me, I would blame the inequality on something else. In America, the majority of people who have achieved the American Dream have done so because they were educated.  Education gives one intellect, and intellect leads to wealth.  An unequal distribution of intellect leads to an unequal distribution of wealth.  This is why the government has provided access to free education for all Americans -- so children and teenagers can become equipped with intellect and given the tools to succeed.  Perhaps Tocqueville should have gone one step further and said that it is only when we accept that we were given the amount of intellect we have...and it is our responsibility to go out and learn as much new knowledge as possible, and that this is how the American Dream is most readily achieved.