The American economy is what keeps the world spinning and it is hard to believe that without one man’s immense contribution, America’s industry would not be the same. This influential and revolutionary man, Henry Ford, showed the world that a small farm boy can greatly impact the world with hard work and dedication. He helped America during their struggle in joining World War I and during a time of chaos and bloodshed, he was able to push America forward. Henry Ford launched the era of the automobile as he introduced the assembly line and Ford Motor Car Company to America. He was extremely important during World War I, as he stimulated the American economy and provided the United States with various forms of aid, as they began to enter the …show more content…
war. Although Ford died in 1947, his legacy still lives on today as his company continues to play a massive role in peoples everyday lives. One of the most accomplished figures in American industry, Henry Ford, is credited with revolutionizing the American economy during World War One as he created a new era of mass production which is still used today. World War I and the time surrounding it were a time of chaos, turmoil, and bloodshed.
“The Great War”, the world’s first international conflict consisted of the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire against the Allied forces of Great Britain, the United States, France, Russia, Italy and Japan (“World War I”). For a long period of time the United States was able to stick to their policy of isolation and President Woodrow Wilson was reluctant to enter the dreadful war. However, The United States was forced to assume an active role in the conflict as the allied forces began to fall and German submarines began to impact US inhabitants. They entered the war to protect Democracy but faced many hardships in their attempts (“Over There”). Coincidently, most of Americans’ issues were concentrated off the battlefield, with the cost of war placing a dent in the economy and creating a massive propaganda campaign to raise troops and money (“America in the First World War”). Overall, America faced many hardships during “The Great War” as their intervention in the conflict proved to be a …show more content…
struggle. Henry Ford launched the era of the automobile as he introduced the moving assembly line as well as the Ford Motor Car Company.
He made many contributions to American industry and started his journey on July 30, 1863 when he was born near Dearborn, Michigan. He became an excellent mechanic at a young age and pursued his passion throughout his life, as a few years after his twenty-eighth birthday; Henry Ford built his very first car, the Quadricycle. This was the first of many as he continued to attempt to make the perfect car company to appease the demands of the public. In 1903, Henry Ford succeeded in his attempts as he started the Ford Motor Car Company and aimed to build cars that were high quality and affordable for the middle class (“Henry Ford”). However, Henry Ford’s influence was not limited to just the financial world. For instance, he was a philanthropist throughout his life as he built a hospital in Detroit and established the Ford Foundation which has directed 8 billion dollars to advancing human welfare (“Henry”). Henry Ford used his ruthless business tactics as well as his many social contributions to become one of the most important men in American
history. One of the most accomplished figures in US history, Henry Ford, influenced the American economy and industry massively with his many contributions. For instance, Henry Ford revolutionized the car industry as in 1901, his first car, the Quadricycle, beat what was then the world's fastest automobile in a race. This was extremely significant as it set Henry on his way and served a platform for greater things to come. This can be seen in 1903 when Henry Ford launched the Ford Motor Car Company. His business hit the ground running as by January 1904, he had sold over 600 vehicles, mostly to his target market of the US middle class. Furthermore, in 1907, he built the Model-T, which he also sold to the middle class. In doing this, he ended the time when automobiles were just for the rich and was able to prove that as his affordable car gained 720,000 dollars in revenue by 1916 (“Henry”). Overall, Henry Ford accomplished many things throughout his lifetime that shaped the United States economy to be what it is today.
Fordism changed American industrial and consumer in many ways such as Henry Ford developed new techniques of car manufacturing and marketing that made it easier for ordinary American citizens to try themselves. After three years of establishing his company “Ford Motor Company” in 1905, Ford introduced to the American people “Model T” for which was a light-weight vehicle that can handle to cruise the country’s poorly maintained roads. In Europe for which the car that is mostly used over there is the “Mercedes” for which was targeted for high-class people of society over there and were superior in craftsmanship in the car manufacturing; however, Ford focused on mass production
In the book, America’s Great War: World War I and the American Experience, Robert H. Zieger discusses the events between 1914 through 1920 forever defined the United States in the Twentieth Century. When conflict broke out in Europe in 1914, the President, Woodrow Wilson, along with the American people wished to remain neutral. In the beginning of the Twentieth Century United States politics was still based on the “isolationism” ideals of the previous century. The United States did not wish to be involved in European politics or world matters. The U.S. goal was to expand trade and commerce throughout the world and protect the borders of North America.
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.
World War I may not have made the world safe for democracy, but it did help to lay the groundwork for a decade of American economic expansion. The war began in Europe in 1914, and the United States entered the fray in 1917. The 1920s saw the growth of the culture of consumerism. A significant reason for United States involvement in the war was the nation’s economic links to the Allied Powers, and especially to Great Britain. American soldiers returned home in May 1919 with the promise of a prosperous decade (Baughman 197).
World War 1 was a war that lasted from 1914 to 1918 and was a war that involved and was molded around alliances. This war in Europe would eventually turn into a global war that would involve 32 countries. United States involvement was crucial to the outcome of World War 1 and made a serious impact in our country. Both positive and negative effects were felt by Americans during and even long after the war. Mixed feelings were felt from many Americans for entering the war that would affect society.
Observed as a technological mastermind, Ford commenced experiments involving machinery from the time he was adolescent to launching his career working at the Edison Illuminating Company. He examined internal combustion engines and gasoline buggy ideas, eventually resulting in removing himself from Edison’s company and his introduction into the emerging automobile industry. Following in 1903, he established the Ford Motor Company, which expeditiously became a leader in the automotive industry and would gain extensive wealth within only a few decades. While other manufacturers strove to produce automobiles to be extravagant and luxurious predominantly for the wealthy, he immensely focused on efficient mass production of durable, affordable vehicles for the expanding middle-class market. The car should be like a fine watch," Ford said.
Henry Ford is responsible for “perhaps the most revolutionary development in industrial history.” (Watts 2005,
Henry Ford was born on July 30 in 1863 in Greenfield Township, Michigan he was one of the first American industrialists and wanted to make a difference in the automobile industry. Back then, before 1908 automobiles were expensive that only rich people could afford. Henry Ford wanted to change this and wanted everyone to have a vehicle to drive. He was able to accomplish this by the assembly line, in which it created more cars in less time. The first car Henry Ford made was the Model T created on the assembly line. Ford’s innovation in manufacturing created less expensive cars and higher wage jobs.
The 1920’s was a time of great social, political, and economic change. The early automobile industry was no exclusion. It appears that throughout history, the figures that stand out the most are either worshipped or despised, and there is very rarely an in-between. Henry Ford, an icon of the 1920’s and the early automobile industry is no exemption. Many people love Ford for his innovative and entrepreneurial skills, while on the other hand, Ford is disliked by many due to his association with Anti-Semitism. Regardless of how Ford is viewed, many decisions he made significantly impacted the automobile industry. These decisions included installing the moving assembly line in his plant, and introducing the Five-Dollar Day. Through the implementation of the Five-Dollar Day, Ford was able to drastically change how the Ford Motor Company company operated, and how business would operate for years to come.
In conclusion, when World War I began in 1914, the United States declared neutrality; however, in 1917 they broke neutrality and declared war. The question for many is, why did the US wait so long and what eventually made the US get involved in this global conflict? The reasons for the United State’s neutrality were George Washington’s Farewell Address, the Monroe Doctrine and the strong belief of pacifism on the war around the United States. After the events of the unrestricted submarine warfare, and the Zimmerman telegram, the United States broke its neutrality. In 1917 Woodrow Wilson said “The world must be safe for democracy.” This quote meant that in order to maintain democracy around the world, all threats to democracy must be ceased. During World War I Germany was a threat to democracy so the United States broke its neutrality and stopped it.
The Great War, also known as World War 1, was one of the deadliest wars that essentially started because of ideologies, small problems that were blown out of proportions because of alliances with other countries which cause catastrophic results worldwide. The United States was part of this conflict, not because of free will, but because none of the European superpowers wanted to respect the fact that the United States was neutral and providing support to both sides of war.
The United States affected the first major catastrophe of the twentieth century tremendously. The First World War, otherwise known as the “Great War,” was truly a world-wide event that was started in August of 1914 due to a single assassination of the heir to the Austria-Hungarian Empire. All but two of the world’s major powers at the time were in Europe, and all of those powers were in entangling alliances that propelled the continent into war. The United States joined the war as a latecomer in 1917 due mostly to a combination of unrestricted submarine warfare and antagonism from Germany over U.S. borders. The involvement of the United States in the Great War was overall beneficial to the development of itself due to a combination of domestic and international factors that cemented the United States as a major “Great Power.”
When Henry Ford was born on June 30th, 1863, neither him nor anyone for that matter, knew what an important role he would take in the future of mankind. Ford saw his first car when he was 12. He and his father where riding into Detroit at the time. At that moment, he knew what he wanted to do with his life: he wanted to make a difference in the automobile industry. Through out his life, he achieved this in an extraordinary way. That is why he will always be remembered in everyone’s heart. Whenever you drive down the road in your car, you can thank all of it to Henry Ford. Through his life he accomplished extraordinary achievements such as going from a poor farm boy to a wealthy inventor who helped Thomas Edison. When he was a young man, he figured out how to use simple inventions, such as the light bulb. He then taught himself the design of a steamboat engine. His goal was to build a horse-less carriage. He had come up with several designs and in 1896, he produced his first car, the Model A. When Ford’s first car came out, he had been interviewed by a reporter and when asked about the history of the car, he had said “History is more or less bunk.” Ford worked in Thomas Edison’s factory for years and the left to become an apprentice for a car-producer in Detroit. While working there, he established how he was going to make the car.
Henry Ford was one of the most important and influential inventors and businessmen in the short history of America. He revolutionized the business world and he changed forever the efficiency of factories around the world. One of the reasons that Henry Ford can be considered such an important man is that his ideas and concepts are still used today. Boron on July 30, in the year of 1863, Henry Ford was the oldest child of the family. His parents, William and Mary Ford, were “prosperous farmers” in his hometown of Dearborn. While they we’re well off for farmers, Ford certainly wasn’t spoiled and fed from silver spoons. Ford was just like any other typical young boy during the rural nineteenth century. From early on there we’re signs that Henry was going to be something more than a farmer. He looked with interest upon the machinery that his father and himself used for their farming, and looked with disdain at the rigorous chores of a farmer. In the year 1879, Henry being a meager 16 years old, he moved to the city of Detroit where he would work as an apprentice machinist. Henry would remain in Detroit working and learning about all varieties of machines. Although he occasionally came back to visit Dearborn, he mostly stayed in Detroit, picking up more and more valuable knowledge. This apprenticeship allowed him to work in the factories of Detroit and learn what a hard working blue-collar job was like. When he did return to Dearborn he was always tearing apart and rebuilding his fathers machines, along with the dreaded farm chores. Henry Ford was a hard worker and that was proven by him getting fired from one of his jobs in Detroit because the older employees we’re mad at him because he was finishing his repairs in a half hour rather than the usual five hours. Clara Bryant would represent the next step in now twenty-five year old Henry Ford’s life. The two lovers we’re married in 1888 and would endure good times as well as bad. In order to support his new wife Henry was forced to work the land as he ran a sawmill that was given to him by his father. His father actually attempted to bribe Henry to stay in the farming business as he gave him the land only under the condition that he would continue on as a farmer.
Born July 30, 1863 in Dearborn, Michigan, Henry Ford was the first child of William and Mary Ford. As a young man he became an excellent self-taught mechanic and machinist. At age 16 he left the farm and went to nearby Detroit, a city that was becoming an industrial giant. There he worked as an apprentice at a machine shop, while months later he would begin work with steam engines at the Detroit Dry Dock Co., where he first saw the internal combustion engine, the kind of engine he would later use to make his automobiles.