In the 19th century, children in the United States predominantly attended one-room schoolhouses. These schools served students of various ages and grade levels in a single classroom, often taught by a single teacher. Education during this time was influenced by the "common school movement," which advocated for public schooling accessible to all children, irrespective of background. The curriculum usually included subjects like reading, writing, arithmetic, and moral instruction. While educational access was limited, especially for minority groups, the 19th century marked the beginning of significant changes in the American educational landscape, laying the groundwork for the modern school system.