<p>If I’m not mistaken, it depends on how you calculate life span. Back then, the infant mortality rate was probably about 30%. So the median age (half the people live to that, half live longer) was certainly a lot shorter than it is now, but if you made it past the first few years, you would probably live for a while.</p>
<p>Here is a link to a girl’s report, using gravestones: <a href=“http://dp.ideasconsulting.com/dp/brianna/frames/exhib/midterm/bio/bio.html[/url]”>http://dp.ideasconsulting.com/dp/brianna/frames/exhib/midterm/bio/bio.html</a></p>
<p>“Between 1900 and 1950 U. S. life expectation at birth increased from 47 to 68 years.” <a href=“http://www.cpe.uchicago.edu/unionarmy/background.html[/url]”>http://www.cpe.uchicago.edu/unionarmy/background.html</a></p>
<p>Recalling back to my days of history of medicine courses, I do recall that “modern” medicine and hospitals really took off during the Civil War. So llifespan increased after that.</p>
<p>Not to embroil myself (or start!) a debate, but didn’t people finish school earlier and generally assume adult responsibilities earlier? </p>
<p>Just a stat: there have been about 120 S. Ct. justices. “The average tenure for Justices is about 15 years, with a new Justice being appointed to the Court about every 22 months.” from <a href=“http://usgovinfo.about.com/blcthistory.htm[/url]”>http://usgovinfo.about.com/blcthistory.htm</a></p>