Henry Ford and the Motor Industry

The Ford Motor Company

The first Ford company was built in Detroit, Michigan. By 1913, Ford introduced a new method of production : the assembly line, cars could be made quicker and cheaper. He used an electric conveyor belt that carried the partly assembled car past workers to fit wheels or doors. The price fell from $800 in 1911 to $295 in 1928. 15 million people bought Model Ts between 1911-1929

The Ford Model T

The Model T was slow and hard to drive but sturdy, very reliable and built with easy to change parts. People were able to go beyond their own backyards. The car changed the motor industry forever. By 1926, there were nearly 20 million cars on America’s roads

The impact of the boom in the motor industry

Created more jobs for people in factories, building roads, highways and oil refineries. Positive social changes : car owners felt a sense of freedom, people no longer had to live near offices and factories. They could buy a house out of town and drive to work. Negative : caused traffic jams, accidents and pollution

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