What was a significant social structure in the U.S. around 1790?

The selection of the population of 4 million, with 95% of it being rural, highlights a crucial aspect of American society around 1790. This period marked the early years of the United States following independence, where the majority of the population lived in rural areas, engaging primarily in agriculture. This rural lifestyle profoundly influenced social structures, economic activities, and cultural practices of the time.

In this demographic context, farming was the predominant occupation, and communities were often small and interconnected. Rural life facilitated a close-knit social structure, where relationships and family ties were central to social organization. Additionally, much of the economy relied on agrarian practices, which shaped the political landscape and community interactions.

The landscape of urban development was minimal, and while industrialization was beginning to take root, it did not gain significant traction until the mid-19th century. Thus, the overwhelming rural characteristic of the population at that time signifies a foundational element of American identity and lifestyle that would later evolve but was very telling of the period in question.