Forks came to the UK only in 1611, it one of the last European lands

to adopt them, and the usage of a fork was at first ridiculed:

"Thomas Coryat, an Englishman, observes forks in use in Italy and
resolves to use one too. Back in England he is given the nickname
"Furcifer," means "fork bearer" but also "gallows bird." He is widely
ridiculed and considered effeminate and affected" (see
http://www.cuisinenet.com/digest/custom/etiquette/utensil_timeline.shtml).

Therefore, when the first settlers came to America, the usage of fork
was not widespread in Britain. However, as they continued to import
knives from Europe, it came obvious that knives became less sharp
(because Europeans moved on from the inherently feudal “Service à la française”
to using a fork to stabilise their solid food as they cut it “Service a la Russe”), and the
Americans, unaware of the invention of the fork, used spoons to stabilise their food
while cutting, and then ate with the spoon in their right hand (when fork did get to
America, by the Early 19th century, they sometimes called it "split spoon").

In Europe

As journalist Harry Roolhaart wrote, "The predominant theory pointing

to the origin of the zig-zag method of eating is that many Americans,
in the absence of forks, and because knives had come to be designed
with blunted ends, began to use their spoons to steady food. They
would then switch the spoon to the right hand to scoop up the bite of
food because they were accustomed to wielding eating utensils with
their dominant hand and because the blunt tip of the knife made this
cumbersome. Finding their non-dominant hand (usually the left hand)
largely neglected when eating in this manner, American table manners
came to adopt the habit of dropping the neglected hand into one’s lap"
. (see http://www.geocities.com/rationalargumentator/Dining_Etiquette.html)

Another theory he mentions (but dissmisses), is that it stems from the

Middle Eastern (and Indian) custom not to use the left hand for
eating, and regarding it as dirty: it was used to clean one's behind
in the toilet. (same source).

• Service à la française evolved over time from the method of

service used in the Middle Ages by royalty and the nobility.
During that period, the only cutlery supplied the diner was a
spoon. All the guests, at least each male guest, would bring his
own knife, actually a dagger. Female guests would be served by
men sitting nearby. The edge of the blade was used to cut pieces
of meat off a joint and the pointed end of the knife was used to
spear the pieces. Forks hadn’t arrived yet from Italy and
fingers were the preferred method of transporting food from a
bowl to the mouth.

As culinary habit and etiquette in France changed from the Middle Ages
to the 19th century, multiple pieces of silverware replaced fingers
and multiple pieces of fine porcelain replaced hard bread. In the
middle of the 19th century the style of service changed to the
Russian-style — service à la russe.
http://www.hertzmann.com/articles/2004/service/

The main difference between service à la russe and service à la

française is a matter of time and space. In service à la française,
the dishes, at least in each course, are arranged spatially but
presented to guests all at once. In service à la russe, the dishes are
arranged temporally, i.e., served in succession, one after another.
Plus the dishes are all offered to the guests by waiters, not passed
by the guests. Instead of offering each guest a different assortment
of dishes, everyone now is offered the same dishes throughout the
meal. Also, with service à la russe, roasts are carved in the kitchen
or on a sideboard, making it easier for the guests to select the
portion they desire.

1900 was considered outdated and impractical by all of the elite and self conscious
middle classes who aspired to join their ranks.
www.leeds.ac.uk/history/studentlife/e-journal/Cannon.pdf