The Nineteenth Century American The Nineteenth Century American was very different than the Twentieth Century American. They had different technology, food, laws, dress, customs, view of art and beauty, and family structure. They lived a lot differently than we do and they acted differently, also. They liked different things, and had different customs, also. They spoke English, but used different words and words had different meanings. The Nineteenth Century American ate many different things, but most of theme were simple. During the Nineteenth Century, the potato chip was invented. American Indian George Crum invented them in 1853. He was a chef at a fancy restauran