Final answer:
Before the Industrial Revolution, society was agrarian with most people living off subsistence farming, creating most of what they needed by hand. Material possessions were few, and life was governed by the agricultural cycle. The Agricultural Revolution began to introduce efficiency into farming practices, setting the stage for later industrialization and associated social and economic changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Life Before the Industrial Revolution
Before the Industrial Revolution, the majority of Americans lived on farms and practiced subsistence farming. Families produced most of the food and goods they consumed, living in large family units in the same towns or regions. Their lives were intertwined with the agricultural cycles, and work began at sunrise and ended at sunset. Material possessions were limited, and production was primarily for personal use, with any excess sold in nearby markets.
The technological advancements of the Agricultural Revolution introduced new tools that made farming more efficient, which eventually facilitated the shift towards larger-scale agricultural practices and urbanization. Despite the introduction of some machinery, most everyday items were made by skilled artisans and consumed locally. The overall economic condition before the 19th century was one of slow growth, with technological and institutional progress moving at a sluggish pace.
The Industrial Revolution eventually transformed this dynamic, introducing new technology and sources of power which revolutionized agricultural practices, increased life expectancy, and ultimately altered the social and economic fabric of societies.