Henry Ford and Mass Production

What was the assembly line?

A process of manufacturing items where the product moves along a conveyor from person to person, each doing the same specific job over and over

Which year did Henry Ford first implement the assembly line into teh automobile industry?

1913

What advantage did the assembly line have in terms of employment?

It meant that unskilled and semi-skilled workers could be employed

What time did Henry Ford manage to reduce the production of the Model T down to?

90 minutes

What percentage of industrial wages was the car industry paying by 1929?

9%

Name 5 other industries that the demand cars caused a boom in

Glass, rubber, steel, paint, oil

Which act made the US government take responsibility for road building?

Which year?

The Federal Highways Act

1921

How many miles of surfaced roads were there in 1919?

350,000

How many miles of surfaced roads were there in 1929?

662,000

The Model T allowed people to move around the country more easily. Name 2 consequences of this.

Construction of roadside diners and motels, creating more service industry jobs.

People didn’t have to live so close to work, so suburbs sprang up, increasing house building.

What allowed people to purchase the Model T more easily?

The development of credit and hire purchase

Name a disadvantage of the assembly line

It could lead to mental health issues for workers because of the repetitive and monotonous nature of the job.

What was the price of the Model T at the end of the 1920s?

Around $300

What percentage of US families owned a car by 1930?

60%