Category	1776 (Then)	2026 (Now)

Life expectancy

~35–40 years

~77–80 years

Infant mortality

~20–25%

~0.5–0.6%

Average number of children per family

6–8

1.7–2.0

Most common jobs

Farmer, artisan, blacksmith, servant

Office worker, healthcare worker, teacher, service industry

Average age of marriage

Women: 20

Women: 28

Men: 22

Men: 30

Favorite foods

Bread, salted meat, porridge, cornmeal, vegetables in season

Pizza, burgers, pasta, ethnic cuisines (Mexican, Asian, Italian)

Clothing

Homemade wool/linen, dresses, breeches

Mass-produced clothing, jeans, t-shirts, sneakers

Literacy rate

~60% (higher among men, lower among women)

~99%

Travel

Horseback, walking, sailboats, wagons

Cars, planes, trains, buses

Popular drinks

Ale, cider, water, tea

Coffee, soda, water, craft beer

Technology

Candles, open hearths, handwritten letters

Smartphones, laptops, electricity, internet

Daily work hours

12–14 hours

8–9 hours (average)

Housing

Log cabins, small farmhouses

Suburban houses, apartments, urban condos

Slavery

Legal and common in southern states

Abolished; slavery illegal

Education

Limited; mostly boys in town schools

Public education universal, co-ed, K-12 + college

Medical care

Herbal remedies, barber surgeons

Hospitals, doctors, modern medicine

Entertainment

Singing, dancing, storytelling, fairs

Movies, streaming, video games, concerts, sports

Communication

Letters, word of mouth

Phone calls, text, email, social media

Transportation speed

~3–5 mph walking, 8–15 mph horse

60–70 mph cars, 500–600 mph planes

Home heating

Wood stoves, fireplaces

Central heating, electricity