assembly line transformed the production process as we know it today.
2.
The beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the United States can almost be traced back to a single invention, with this America transformed the manufacturing of goods forever. With this invention obviously came numerous advantages as well as disadvantages. The invention of the assembly line can be traced back to Ransom Olds in 19011. The obvious advantage to this invention being able to cut down production times dramatically helping to boost production of items across a gambit of materials. Being able to accomplish this of course increased the availability of items as well as lowering costs as companies were now able to mass produce items with fewer people. As this system was improved upon it lead our culture to want more and want quicker leading to a country that not only could have things when they wanted it but demanded the give me more mentality we have today. All of these aspects led lower wages since exact skills were no longer in demand as well as long monotonous routines2. Accumulation of resources became not only a plus due to this adaptation in manufacturing but had certain drawbacks as
well.
3. Accumulating resources is a big part of who we are as not only a society but who we are as a country as well. Having the ability to mass produce items through the assembly line process has given our country the unique ability of being able to give everyone, regard less of income, the opportunity to acquire goods at relatively low cost to society. Accumulating resources such as oil, natural gas, and certain metals allows our country to be self-reliant if and when the need arises. Having an abundance of resources has its downfalls as well. However, other countries and cultures tend to look at this as a power move as well as wondering why aren’t we helping those that are less fortunate when we have the ability. Overall, being able to produce and accumulate items I believe is a good thing.
4. The ability to mass produce items with the advent of the assembly line changed how we not only produce and accumulate items but also how it has affected our economy and the way we view it. Of course with any change it has its pros and cons. The way we are able to use Ransom Olds invention of the assembly line has made the ability to acquire goods cheaper and more accessible to the masses. But also has brought with it lower wages and a drop in the industrial workforce. Accumulating resources has turned our country into a superpower with the ability to maintain self-reliance from the rest of the world, but with that has brought us a negative view in the eyes of other cultures around the globe. With understanding the roles production and accumulation play in our culture, hopefully we can change take the negatives they have on our society and turn them back into positives like Ransom Olds believed they would.