The American System & Fordism

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on The American System and Fordism.

The American System

An economic plan that aimed to strengthen the national economy by promoting domestic manufacturing and improving transportation.

Fordism

A system of mass production that includes assembly line work and standardization of products, pioneered by Henry Ford.

Gothic Revivalism

A design movement in the 19th century that sought to revive Gothic architectural styles and elements.

Aestheticism

A late 19th-century art movement emphasizing aesthetic value over socio-political themes in art and design.

Arts and Crafts Movement

A design movement promoting handcrafted goods and traditional craftsmanship in reaction to industrialization.

Jugendstil

A German version of Art Nouveau that focused on organic forms and decorative arts in the late 19th to early 20th century.

Art Nouveau

An international style of art and design that emphasized fluid lines, natural forms, and ornamentation prevalent from the late 19th to early 20th century.

Scientific Management

A theory of management that analyzes workflows to improve efficiency, developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor.

Moving Assembly Line

A manufacturing process in which workers stay in one place while products move along a conveyor belt for assembly, greatly increasing production speed and efficiency.

Model T

An affordable automobile produced by Ford Motor Company that revolutionized personal transportation in the early 20th century.

Mass-production

The manufacturing of large quantities of standardized products, often using assembly line techniques.

Electrification

The process of powering by electricity, particularly in industrial settings and transportation.

Industrialization

The transformation from an agrarian economy to one based on the manufacturing of goods.

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests of a particular nation, often leading to the promotion of national culture and interests.

Time-and-motion studies

Analytical research methods to measure the time it takes for a task to be completed and improve operational efficiency.

Industrial design

The professional practice of designing products, vehicles, and other items intended for mass production, focusing on both aesthetics and functionality.