Summary Of The Social Influence Of The Automobile By Allen D. Albert

The automobile has had a profound impact on the United States. It has brought us

Technology played a vital part in helping America become the great economic and cultural success that it was during the 1920s. New advancements, new discoveries, and new inventions improved American lives in every imaginable way but not without a few negative side-effects. As mentioned earlier, the automobile really came into play during the 1920s by making traveling a common thing for anyone who could afford a car (Trueman, 2000). Henry Ford started the Ford Motor Company, which began to mass produce affordable automobiles known as the Model-T. Ford's Model-T car became such an irresistible success that by the end of the decade, there was almost one car per family in the United States (Bruce, 1981). The automobile seemed to give people a type of new freedom, but the automobile also proved to be a dangerous item in the hands of many irresponsible people who loved to drink during the 1920s. The washing machine, telephone, and radio made their arrival during the twenties. People were discovering life to be far easier than the previous generations because of technology, but they were also slowly being driven into an industrial nation. People were lured

The 1920 's were a time where North America became modernized. Whether it was the music, the culture or the growth in technology, this time era is known to most people as the point where America advanced itself to become a world renowned country. An advancement that will be focused on is the Ford Model T. During this time owning a car was a symbol of wealth. Henry Ford, the creator of the Model T, made a system that revolutionized the automobile industry as we know it today. Henry Ford made it possible for people with an average income to own a motor vehicle by creating the assembly line and the theory of mass production. "The horse, which had been the chief means of land transportation for 3,500 years, had given way to the automobile, and

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 first way the automobile has changed American society is by creating more jobs. The automobile created jobs in fast food, city/highway construction, state patrol/police, convenience stores, gas stations and auto shops.1 Mechanics were beginning to earn a living fixing the inevitable problems.2 Also oil and steel were two well-established industries that received a serious boost by the demand for automobiles, which created tens of thousands of jobs.3 The steel industry and machine tool makers flourished as the automotive industry required ever increasing supplies and components for the engines, chassis and other metal fixtures of the cars.4 Other than the basics, every car needed a battery, head lights, interior upholstery and paint, which created new side businesses.5 The trucking industry sustained a period of growth as more good were shipped via truck.6 Experts estimate that by about 1980, two

The 1920s are often referred to as “The Roaring 1920s” because it was a decade of prosperity. Although they were living on false notions, they were living among wild bootleggers and gangsters, flappers, hot jazz, marathon dancers, and in a decade of dissipation. These were modern times and during so many social and economic changes they were able to have more time for leisure and travel (Digital History: The 1920s – An Overview). Some of the major events of the decade that helped give the 1920s this nickname was the rise of inventions such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and toasters, mass entertainment, and half of Americans owning automobiles (John Green Video). There was also a change in the “revolution in morals and manners” that played a big part of how culture was perceived (Digital History: The 1920s – An Overview).

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.

In the early twentieth century, science and technology brought the automobile. In less than one hundred years, humans especially Americans have grown

Threats of substitutes: In U.S., an automobile was considered as necessity so for every adult there was car on roads. Even for inter-city travel more than 70% time cars were used. Buses, trains and other means didn’t have much impact. The growing array of higher priced imported models had negative effect.

Without the automobile trucks would be unable to bring food and other important items to the cities. Another reason the automobile has changed society for the better is that it has created many jobs that revenue millions of dollars yearly due to the different types of jobs such as building highways, truckers delivering items from state to state and busses that people for daily. There are many ways that the automobile has changed the history of it, rather having it become a necessity into every day life. It has become a personal admiration toward some groups of people collect them.

The automobile is one technological advancement that I feel has had the most effect on modern society. Of course, before the automobile, people rode in buggies powered by horses to get where they needed. Over the years, technology with the automobile has given us the ability to get there faster, in comfort, and in style. It also allowed us to visit places that we may have not of had the opportunity to visit due to time or distance. We can leave Concord, N.C and be at the beach in about 3 ½ hrs. If we were going by horse and buggy that might be 7 days of traveling, just one way. Just think about how often you run to the nearest grocery store to pick up one item or drive down the street to a neighbor’s house to eat dinner. I often think about

The invention of the car has greatly impacted the society. It it hard for this generation to think about a world without cars. We use cars in our everyday lives, and no one thinks about riding horse drawn carriage anymore.

“The car has become an article of dress without which we feel uncertain, unclad, and incomplete in the urban compound” Says Marshall McLuhan. What would a society be without cars? Chaos, without cars it would be chaos, there would be overcrowded train stations without enough room for everyone, pushing and shoving trying to find their way onto the train. Buses with no available seats, taxis with crazy high fares, no need for that we had the handy dandy car at our reach.

Boundaries are infinite, and yet they are meant to be surpassed. Each and every one of us comes from a different past; we all face different boundaries that restrict us from achieving what we want in life. I digress due to slow starts, but feeling destined for greatness drives me to exceed the expectations from society; being a poster child of a kid who would never amount to anything. Being that child from a family that was broken due to drugs, rape, mental issues, and alcohol, dealing with the military life with social anxiety, and being left with nothing. I continue to progress. I continue to chase my destiny, my legacy for greatness.

The emphasis of this research is to focus on history of automobile industry. Explining how transportation has come into being and how it eventually transformed to modern era car which we all enjoy and have built our lives around it. The intrigue to invent an automobile ha began as early as 17th century. Ever since the automobile invention, it has never slowed down, but the demand has significantly increased.