Richard Hofstadter discusses this topic in "Anti-Intellectualism in American Life" he argues that some discontent between the intellectuals (smart nerdy types) and the common working man has always existed. In America this Anti-Intellectualism (distrust or scorn for educated elite) was shaped by our puritan roots and our democratic form of government. For example: during the early 19th century a college education would usually include instruction in Greek and Roman classics. The working class farmer viewed this as a mostly worthless topic. Naturally there developed some resentment about rich kids sitting around learning worthless info while everybody else worked for a living.

I recommend you pick up a copy and read it. It's pretty easy reading and somehow it manages to be one of those books that everybody agrees with, always assuming the anti-intellectuals are the other guys.