Ford Model T

What would America be today if Henry Ford’s impact in history would have never occurred? Could the wealthy be the only citizens who could own a car? Could it be possible that the assembly line would have never been perfected? Thankfully, we don’t have to live in a world where all these possibilities are unknown. During the 20th century being able to travel from one place to another in their own car was rather strenuous to most Americans. Although the automobile did exist, it was extremely expensive and only the wealthy were able to afford it. Without Henry Ford’s impact on American history, this scenario would have never changed, only the wealthy would be driving in their own automobile today. America would not be what it is today if it weren’t for Ford. Henry Ford made an extremely impact in America through his Model T, which made automobiles more accessible for the majority of Americans, and perfecting the assembly line, which would increase mass production.

With the success of the assembly line, Ford was very please however he had a bigger goal set. Ford wanted to produce cheap cars for the common people to use. Ford made many different types of cars and experimented with each of them. They were all good but not good enough. After many different models, Ford achieved his goal with his invention of the Ford Model T. The Model T was a fully functional compact automobile with a good transmission and torque as well as comfort and size. Apart from that, the most important aspect of the Model T was that is was extremely cheap. As Sobel states,”...the model T was only worth $290 in 1924.” This was a huge

     In this year Henry Ford created the first affordable, combustion engine car called the Model-T. The creation of the Model-T changed the lives of every American. Vehicles were looked at as a way of freedom and excitement. Soon after, every household in America had a car. The demand for vehicles sparked a whole new industry, creating jobs, more revenues and improving the American economy in every way. With so many vehicles on the roads, roads needed to

A motor car for the great multitude a goal for Henry Ford(Schlager 593). In the 1920s, automobiles are rapidly changing the American lifestyle forever because of their affordability and also the development of new assembly technology to lower the cost. Technological innovations of assembly begin to expand and advance for the better throughout the 1920s, which impacts Americans and the people of the world today. Henry Ford, a bold figure during the 1920s, owner of Ford automobiles. His ideas and innovation like the assembly line forever changes the automobile and the way goods are produce. Although there are many technological advancement during the 1920s, the assembly line designed by

     The technology and science during the twenties was very important. Many new ideas and inventions were introduced to Americans that influenced their lives. Henry fords automobile changed American life. Ford wanted to “democratize the automobile”. He wanted to everyone to be able to afford an automobile and have one. To help this he paid his workers five dollars a day, for doing this he was known as the friend of the worker. Ford also lowered the price of his cars. The model t ford became the “family pet of the nation” (Gales research, 1998). By 1929, 23.1 million passenger cars were in use in the United States. The privacy and mobility offered by the car would transform the Americans lived. The spread of technology affected consumerism. The United States economy went through a steady growth and expansion during this time. The radio became very popular in the twenties. By 1922, 3 million Americans households had radios. Many new electric appliances such as: vacuum cleaners, toasters, washing machines, televisions and refrigerators were introduced. These appliances helped the American housewife. Women became America’s greatest consumer. People started going to see motion pictures. The first movies were called silent screens.

The 1920s was a time of growth for society. One form of technology that changed mankind for years to come was the Model T. Although cars were, “First invented and perfected in Germany and France in the late 1800s” (Automobile History 1) the Model T was truly the first of its kind. According to Nick Hardcastle the Model T was the first car most Americans could afford (2). Cars were expensive to make at the time; therefore, they were only available to the wealthy. Most Americans did not own cars, but this wouldn’t be true for long. The average price of a car at the time went from 850 dollars to only 250 dollars in less than ten years (Hardcastle 2). This was a dramatic change that happened in a small amount of time. The world was becoming bigger for more Americans. The number of cars Americans were buying was rapidly

The economic boom of the 1920’s enhanced the everyday life of Americans. Mass production of goods made prior tasks, such as washing clothes, simple and allotted woman to have leisure time. The assembly line utilized by Henry Ford made the production of automobiles cost less lowering the price for consumers. The amount of cars sold from 1921-29 went up from 1.5 million to 4.5 million. (Document 9) With more leisure time because of useful inventions people sought activities to occupy their free time. Radios grew increasingly popular and steadily increased to be in 10 million households in 1929. (Document 9) The economic power held by the U.S permitted technological advances to be attainable, which unconstrained the daily lives of many Americans.

“The assembly line sped up the manufacturing process dramatically. ... Mass Production.” This show that when the assembly line was invented in 1913 by Henry Ford, it allowed things to be built faster and that led to cheaper labor cost and cheaper products for the people and this led to a better economy. A big invention that changed a lot for factories and people was the light bulb, “The major economic impact of the light bulb was that it allowed factories and other businesses to run even in the night.” This shows that the light bulb allowed factories to produce more goods even at night and this allowed more jobs being given and more products that were being exported and sold, all that helped the economy

During this time period, America saw a great change in its economy. After WWI, many citizens had extra time and extra money. Due to the surplus, they were eager to attain a variety of new products on the market. The greatest example of these technologies is the automobile. Not only did the car become affordable through the use of assembly lines, but it also gave the public an opportunity to travel and live in areas other than the city. Although there was not a great selection of cars back then, progressive advertisement strategies persuaded the public that they indeed needed a car.

New inventions created jobs while making them easier to accomplish. Henry Ford used the assembly line which made a car every ten seconds. This was a brilliant system because each person on the assembly had a specific job. Ford also had great benefits for his workers. He wanted to keep his employees, so he paid them enough money for them to buy their own car. Roads were built due to the increase of

Mass Production, employed by magnates such as henry ford, allowed American economic output to grow rates at never seen before. By the

In the beginning of the 1900s cars were only for the wealthy because of their high price point. This made it inaccessible for the common working class of America. Ford grew up in a farming family where the average person could not afford such a costly luxury item (“Model T: The” 1). The high price point of these automobiles was in part because each and every single car had to be made one at a time (“The First” 2). Due to this, Ford decided that he would start his own automobile company, making cars more affordable to the average middle class citizen.

Within the 1920’s there was a vast expansion of several businesses. At the time, several new industries had begun to expand including several with ties to technology. Food processing and household appliances were among several types of businesses that began to mass produce due to the precedent Henry Ford had set forth, this being the idea of a moving assembly line. Additionally, automobiles was a large “backbone” for the massive economic growth America was experiencing at the time. In fact, many factories began to produce automobiles rather that the original textiles. Overseas investment was also very popular within America, allowing the United States dollar to surpass it’s British “pound” counterpart. Along with this large uprising of businesses, in America, came the overall evolution of technology. Typical American houses were completely transformed, allowing the dissolution of domestic servants. Furthermore, the large boost in technology basically created what we know now as everyday Hollywood.

In the early 1900’s there were very few car manufacturers in the United States and only the very wealthy owned a car. Henry Ford saw this as an opportunity to produce an affordable vehicle

The increase of Model T’s demanded for an increase in workers. More automobiles needed, opened many job options for people. For example, becoming a trained worker for the assembly line. An assembly line will only work if every position is filled, and in full function. A Model T could not be used if a part were missing.