America began as a nation of farmers. In 1790 almost four million people lived on farms, sewed their own clothes, and made their own soap and candles, and furniture. For things they couldn?t do themselves, early American turned to local craftsman and shopkeepers. Everything from wagons to leather shoes was made by hand one item at a time. Even work was different from what it is today. People didn?t have jobs in the way we think of them now. They didn?t commute back and forth to an office or earn a regular paycheck. People worked for themselves and lived where they worked; the farmers on their land, the craftsman in a little shop behind his house, the doctor in his study.…
