RISE OF BIG BUSINESS AND ORGANIZED LABOR Henry Ford and Walter Reuther are two of the biggest names in the world of automobile industries and organized labor. They were both activists in their own way. Also, they were completely different from each other, one could even argue that they were opposites. Their ideas were contradicting, but still both of them had positive effects on society. Henry Ford was a captain of industry. He owned Ford Motors, which was an automobile company. Ford was a man who always wanted his own way and he got it most of the time. The creation he is most famous for is the FORD MODEL T, the car for the commoners. His car became an instant hit amongst the people- the local people and the working class of people because it was very affordable and was not just for the rich. Ford was a very successful businessman but not particularly a nice guy. He expected a lot from his workers but thing is that he also cared for his workers, because he knew that not only were they dependent on him but also that he depended upon them, they were the ones due to which he was gaining popularity and success throughout America. Ford’s great strength was the manufacturing process for his cars. Instead of having people put together the entire car he created organized teams that added parts to the Model T as it moved down the assembly line, this lowered the production prices and also the time and energy required to put together the cars. Ford offered an incredible perk for people working in his company. He offered the workers $5 a day minimum wage even though in other auto industries the wages were $2.34. So Ford was paying more than double the average wage to his workers, this shows his dedication to his work. Henry Ford despised Labor Unions for the sole reason that they were pointless and that because he thought he knew how to take care of his workers better than anybody else did. However, in 1941 he faced a general strike from his workers that made him change his mind, reluctantly. Ford had worked a lot to create a car that would be affordable to any common person. He stated, “ I will build a car for the great multitude…so low in price that no one will be unable to own one.
Who was once a hero, was now the villain in many regards; he was the protagonist at first, and after, became the antagonist after his fortune took over his morality. Henry Ford had well-meaning intentions at first. Truly wanting to connect the world, he wanted to create a car that everyone can afford and be able to enjoy. Although he achieved his goal of creating this car, the model T, several unintentional controversial ideologies were established along with it.
While it is true that these capitalists’ wealth widened the gap between the rich and poor, the discussion that these men were more like the leaders of a growing industry is even more valid. These Northern capitalists led the South away from the depending of farming for their economy, but more importantly, they used their wealth for the growth of America’s industry. If these men did not transfer their wealth towards philanthropist educational development, there would have been no idea for industrial development. And if the American industry could not develop, it would have never have risen to industrial excellence, which has made what our economy what it is now.
Henry Ford was a great entrepreneur, who changed the way the world travelled, manufactured goods and enjoyed their leisure time. He bridged the gap between consumer and automobile, bettering the industry and world economy. He didn’t invent the automobile he just made it affordable for the average family through his moving assembly line that is still being used today to manufacture all things from household electronics to toys.
Yes Ford was a very intelligent man. He implicated the assembly line a very effective system, not only towards the car industry but as well as ever mass produced product made. The assembly line was a major advantage in World War II (1939-1945). It gave us the ability to mass-produce products needed for war: Guns, Ammo, Tanks, ect. But to say Henry Ford was a hero is not 100% accurate. Henry Ford was very strict on his employees. His employees were to only buy his newspaper; employees’ personal lives and family’s were checked up, with that being said Ford was kind of creating his own socialist culture. The older people Ford would do away with to hire younger to people to set the speed of the line more than likely would probably disagree with davids and not refer to Ford as a “ Hero”.
Ford had many struggles and challenges come his way before he became the maker of an efficient, non costly car that shaped our world into a technological nation. One challenge he faced was the inability to sell cars when The Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers did not allow him to sell cars, (“Henry Ford”). This was a huge obstacle for him because when he created the Ford Model T he needed an audience to buy his product or he was going to be bankrupt. Luckily, since Ford was persistent and always fought for what he wanted he went to court against them and won his case. Moreover, Ford was sued by his own stockholders for putting their money into his company and he lost the case. When he lost the case he didn’t just give up, he worked harder to earn back the money he lost and eventually he bought them out and was able to continue building his stocks up, (“Father of the Modern Assembly Line”). Due to his perseverance and persistenceness he was able to continue with his company and thrive instead of seeing it crumble into nothing. His attitude towards his work is how he was able to create a multi-million dollar company and not let his obstacles bring him down, but let them shape him into a better, industrious
Henry Ford, known for being a great American for revolutionizing the automobile industry. ”When everything seems to be going against you,remember the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it” Ford once said("BrainyQuote") . He ultimately had a powerful and significant role in the the United States("The Life of Henry Ford"). To have an impact on the automobile industry, Ford had been especially known for these unique things; he founded the assembly line, payed his employees better than any other auto maker of that time, and developed a car that was affordable for the average man,the Model T.("The Life of Henry Ford").
The last bolt is screwed on as a relieved automotive worker marvels at his wondrous creation: a car. With the roar of an engine, the car slowly disappears into the distance. The worker gradually turns around, picks up his tools, and continues to work on a new car. As a consumer, we rarely wonder how things are made; we simply take everything we own for granted. For once, have you wondered how many hours of hard labor many automotive workers must go through? The automotive industry has been around for many years, but it has not always been as efficient as it currently is. As the industry continues to evolve, many new innovative ideas are still being developed. In the past, automotive workers have had to work in harsh conditions without much security or job benefits. Nevertheless, through the continuous development of organized collective bargaining, workers are being treated as they should be. Being the largest automobile manufacturer in the world, General Motors Corporation has been greatly affected by the needs of their workers. Rick Wagoner, CEO of General Motors, is currently in charge of “running the show” at GM. Being the most successful automotive company since 1931, it is obvious that he not only has to satisfy customers, but also the workers within the company. From the smallest things such as a work raise to bigger things such as the working condition, the management of General Motors has been pressured to make both positive and negative changes to the way the company is run as a whole in order to satisfy the workers who are part of the UAW Union. Therefore, the formation and development of unions encompasses both pros and cons.
Henry Ford was born on his father’s farm in what is now Dearborn, Michigan on July 30, 1863.Unlike most kids Henry wasn’t interested in sport but he was interested in machines. When he was 13 years old, his father gave him a pocket watch, which he regularly took apart and reassembled. He used the watches that he took apart and fixed as textbooks to learn the basics of machine design. His friends and neighbors were impressed of his knowledge of machines. So much that they requested for him to fix their watches. He also got some of his friends to help him build basic water wheels
Henry Ford ranks among the most important figures of the industrial era. He founded the Ford Motor Company, driving down costs and making automobile ownership a modern feature of middle-class American life. Through it all, he maintained a great style of charitable giving. The funny thing is that Ford, he hated philanthropies. He thought that work was all depended on human existence, especially something that was
Henry Ford was an average boy, the eldest of six. Born July 30th, 1863, he would eventually become one of America’s most well-known inventors. His father, William Ford, had a farm in Springwells, Michigan. Young Henry didn’t like the hard, physical work of farming; he was much more interested in mechanics. At one point he was so fascinated with the mechanisms of clocks and watches that he made his own set of tools and went to work figuring out what it was that made them tick. He was schooled in a one-room schoolhouse with other children of all ages, learning from books, which presented gospel values and virtues as well as simple arithmetic and science. Supposedly, he would fix his classmates’ watches when the teacher wasn’t looking. His siblings would joke with him even on Christmas morning saying, “Don’t let Henry get your toys, he just takes them apart!” Once Ford grew old enough he took a mechanic job as an apprentice to the Flowers Brothers in Detroit.
Henry Ford is one of my heroes because he is the founder of Ford Motor Company, and I like to go fast and not be broke down. He did not make the first car but he did make it so most middle class individuals could afford one. The assembly line decreased the amount of time and made
Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863 and died on April 7, 1947. Henry Ford was one of Americas captains of industry and a big business mogul. He is the founder of the ford motor company, he is also was a sponsor of the development the assembly line technique of mass production. Henry Ford did not invent the automobile or the assembly line, he manufacture and developed one of the cheapest automobiles at that tim that was affordable for every person in the United States. He made his cheap automobile a conveyance instead of an expensive curiosity. It made it where every middle class family could own a car not just the rich.
He was a son of a farmer and was interested in mechanical work in his early ages. “Ford showed mechanical aptitude at an early age and left (1879) his father’s farm to work as an apprentice in a Detroit machine shop. He soon returned to his home, but after considerable experimentation with power driven vehicles, he went (1890) to Detroit again and worked as a machinist and engineer with the Edison Company.” (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia) From my experience he was probably inspired to dream big. “Henry Ford was driven. He tinkered obsessively to create a horseless carriage that would change the rural way of life he’d fled as a 16 year old for the grimy lure of becoming a Detroit mechanic.” (Santoro) Henry Ford was taught to never give up, he was truly inspired. His desire to never give up, and to have big dreams helped him be known as an inspiring guy; who did a lot of help with funding.
Henry Ford lived as an example of his own word through his career .He impacted the citizens of the united states because he was the first person to make cars for working, he started one of the biggest car companies ever and it is still thriving today and he invented the assembly line.
Henry Ford was the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and the driving force behind the firm and its products, who made an extraordinary impact on the American industry. Henry made many accomplishments, which include the Quadricycle and the Model-T car. As a young kid Henry was really into the mechanical industry, which helped him in life to develop all of the cars that he created during his years at the head of Ford and as he worked in his younger days at a Detroit factory. (2:23) Also when Henry was married to Clara Bryant in 1888, he ran a sawmill, which helped him make some money to get his family started. (6:1) The Model-T car was very cheap and this made it available for every man or woman who wanted to get a car. This vehicle initiated a new era in personal transportation. The Model-T was easy to operate, maintain, and handle on almost any road conditions, which immediately made it a huge success. Henry Ford was a huge success in the boom of the economy in the early 1900’s. (4:2)