Life for the average person in the 1800s was hard. Many lived a hand-to-mouth existence, working long hours in often harsh conditions. There was no electricity, running water or central heating.
In the early 1900s, the average family had an annual income of $3,000 (in today’s dollars). The family had no indoor plumbing, no phone, and no car.
About half of all American children lived in poverty. Most teens did not attend school; instead, they labored in factories or fields.
In 1900, about 60 percent of the population lived on farms or in rural areas. Today, one in four lives in rural areas; more than half live in suburbs.
Here below is a set of amazing photos from Rescued by Rover that shows what life was like in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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| Lunch on the Ice |
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| “Mary had a little lamb” |
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| Basket vendor. A pencilled caption on the slide indicates that the location is in Paris |
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| Bob Sleighing |
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| Bolton Woods, Yorkshire |
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