The Auto Industry In The 1930's

* Model T became a popular car because of low price, cheap (mass production) and easy maintenance

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

The automobile industry put American citizens into action. Mass production was a big component in the success of automobiles. Although successful, it became very repetitive. Skilled workers who were once worshipped, were no longer needed. Henry Ford was described as racist, bitter, but he brought success to citizens in the 1920s. Ford started the Ford Motor Company in 1903 with the help of a limited amount of workers in a shed. It was not until 1914 where custom-made cars turned into many cars, such as the Model T, moving down an assembly line. The Model T was a very popular car that benefitted cheap labor and easy mobility for its owners. Ford became a billionaire from the help of the federal government’s actions. At this point, the government decided that funds should be spent more on roads. Automobiles introduced

Ford’s dream was to produce a moderate priced, reliable, and efficient automobile, which came with the Model T in 1908.3 A company that started out small, now had over half of the car owners in America driving the Model T.1 It was easy to operate and maintain, it also handled good on rough roads. It was the most popular automobile in history, and over fifteen million were sold. With the Model T, Ford achieved his goal to make reasonable priced cars for the average person. 2

Technology advancements and innovations served as, in my opinion, the most drastic life changing factors during this time period. For instance, the invention of the assembly line had a major impact on American workers. In fact, “By the mid-1920s one of eight U.S. workers was somehow involved in the production, sales, service, and fueling of automobiles.” (Kyvig, p.28) This is a major primary source that Kyvig uses as evidence to support his thesis and to help portray the fact that this time period changed the way Americans lived their lives. Just the automobile in general, “significantly changed the way people worked, conducted their business, shopped for necessities and desires, and spent leisure time.” (Kyvig, p.28) The automobile was unquestionably the most noteworthy of all new technologies that had gained popularity in the 1920s. As a secondary source of evidence, there were other inventions that gained popularity as

faster for less money than before. This, in turn, allowed for wider market areas in

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 concept of the automobile was first started in England during Industrial Revolution in the Eighteenth Century. The automobiles were powered by steam engine. Later on, inventors like Henry Ford began thinking further ahead about gasoline engine to produce powerful cars because steam engine cars were not enjoyable because it takes almost ten to twenty minutes to heat up the engine before driving. On June 16, 1903 Henry Ford started the ford motor company (Wikipedia). Almost 500,000 workers were employed in the automobile industry (Nick). Following this many Americans found job opportunities to make their life better in other hand they help the economy and expedite the growth of the country. Soon Ford motor company produced automobiles that were affordable like the Model-T. ”By 1927 the Ford Motor Company had sold over 15.5 million Model Ts in the United States.” (My Life and Work 560). “Nearly half of all American families owned a car in 1929” (561). According to this cars become big part of American's life. Families can go visit family or friend living farther away. Workers drive their automobile to workplace and arrive on time. Overall automotives boost up the productivity and efficiency which led American people to live cozy life, besides give them more time to entertain and refresh

Monopolies were on the rise, with the assembly line raising production rates, Ford and Chrysler were able to out-produce their competition, essentially forcing them

Cars in the 1920s completely impacted daily life and greatly influenced the cars that we use everyday. Back before cars were popular, everyone traveled by horse and buggy. They had no source of cart heating, nothing to absorb shock, wheels without tires. All they had for streets back then were dirt roads with a top layer of gravel. This was not a problem for horses and buggies, but cars didn’t handle well in the mud. Because of this, the invention of the paved road we use now came about. After that, they needed a more organized and efficient way to navigate to faraway places, since the people could now travel at ease. An interstate highway system was created as a result of the First Federal Highway Act, passed in 1921. The highways heading

The new era economy reflected the industrialization that the country had just undergone. Although there was a recession from 1921-1922, after 1922 we enter a period of uninterrupted prosperity, and growth. As Americans incomes increase, and prices decrease, this allowed for more of a disposable income. Middle class families are now able to buy cosmetics, fridges, vacuums, and automobiles. Technology also greatly influenced the major economic growth that occurred. The automobile industry became the most important industry in the nation. It was very similar to a domino effect, once auto manufacturing increased and was successful, other industries such as, steel, rubber, glass, and oil companies also increased their production due to the purchases made by the auto manufacturers. Automobile manufacturing created jobs, and as the radius of cities was extended, the demand for more automobiles increased. Unfortunately, farming became a double-edged sword. In the 1920’s tractor usage quadrupled, but the problem was that the demand for agricultural goods was not increasing with increasing production. This created

The model T was the first affordable car for all people in America. It was a huge step in the advancements of Americans and allowed people to get things done a lot faster than the old ways of

18. Why did Ford, GM and Chrysler undergo a harsh downturn relative to other car makers?

Ford’s car production won’t be forgotten, but remembered through the ages. The Ford Motor Company’s adaptation of the assembly line gave Ford an advantage over competitors. Selling over 15 million cars by 1925, the new stylish cars were in high demand and were sold at lower prices. This enabled almost anyone to own one and find new pass times to occupy their lives with. During this era the quantity of cars contributed to the building of new freeways, the growth of suburbs, and just scouting the land. Now that America was mobile, gas