Preview

How Did The Change Of Life In The 1920's

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
870 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Did The Change Of Life In The 1920's
Times in the 1920`s were not always the easiest, there were times when people had to walk to places, farmers used horses to transport goods, which could take hours or even days to get to the destination. All this was the life of people in the 1920`s until a man by the name of Henry Ford made an affordable option an automobile. This helped everyone in the world from farmers to the workers in industries, everyone benefited from this and the world became a different place with this invention. Automobiles changed the life and the world in the 1920`s when the industry took off and had positive impact on the economy.
To begin automobiles had such a huge impact on American life, this made everything so much easier and more able to be done. While
…show more content…
Everyone enjoyed the change of this so much that only a couple years into the 1920’s Ford has sold over a million cars. Henry Ford did two important things, first he made the price of his car to be as affordable to everyone and second, he paid his workers good wages, enough to be able to purchase the cars they were manufacturing. This helped push wages and auto sales upward. The convenience of the automobile freed people from the need to live near rail lines or stations now they could choose locations almost anywhere in as long as a road was near. Many states in the US established motor fuel taxes that were used only to build and maintain highways helping the auto highway system become self-supporting. A man had said that Henry Ford freed common people from the limitations of their geography. The automobile created mobility on a scale never known …show more content…
The automobile has consistently moved with the state of the economy, growing during the boom period after World War I and dropping abruptly during the Great Depression, when unemployment was high. World War II saw a large increase in mass transit because employment was high and automobiles were scarce. The rapid growth of car owners after World War II, particularly in the United States and Western Europe demonstrated the population's favor towards automobiles. During the war, automobile motors, fuel, and tires were in short supply. As automobile sales increased, the demand for fuel led to a more systematic way of delivery, and in 1914 Standard Oil of California opened a chain of 34 standardized stations along the west coast. Gasoline pumps were being installed not only at the new service stations, but in front of hardware stores, feed companies, livery stables, and a variety of other

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    The 1920s was the Golden Age of spending and newfound prosperity. Newfound prosperity was represented by the automobile. Automobiles “in the first decade of the twentieth century, were considered rich men’s playthings. They were handmade and expensive.” (Kunstler 88). Soon, Henry Ford created the Model T, “a very reliable machine that ‘the great multitude’ could afford to buy… and by the summer of 1916… Ford offered the same models for $345 and $360. That year he produced 738,811 cars.” (Kunstler 89). The rise of the automobile changed American life in the 1920s because it created new architecture, altered…

    • 1781 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Although automobiles existed before Henry Ford created his model, he was still a great influence on the country. Ford Motor Company was established in 1905 and "by 1929, half of all Americans owned a car" (Foner, 612). One of the most important thing that Ford had done was adopt the moving assembly line in 1913. This contributed to more people owning cars, which in turn stimulated the economy and increased the need for supplies. Spurring consumerism within the nation, Henry Ford and the automobile were great for a number of things in the economy.…

    • 1372 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    1920's Changing Attitudes

    • 786 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The 1920 's were a period of tension between new and changing attitudes on the one hand and conservative values on the other. In fact, some historians refer to the twenties as the first decade of the twentieth century. What accounts for this observation? How did some people challenge those changes?A major fact that contributes to the twenties being seen as the first decade of the twentieth century is that modern attitudes about labor and consumption began to develop. The system of Fordism, or mass production, involved the usage of interchangeable parts and electric power so that production could be as fast as possible. Conveyor belts were employed to move subassemblies past workers who tightened a few bolts or installed one part. This assembly line method led to a major increase in output. The managers at the factories were very concerned with the speed of production and did everything in their power to ensure that it was very fast. Workers were laboring under more intense supervision compared to previous years. They were being encouraged to work more efficiently. For example, in textile factories there was a higher quota of looms that the workers had to meet. Less satisfying work accompanied mass production. It was monotonous and required little to no skill. These workers sought pleasure through the consumption of goods and services,…

    • 786 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 1920s were a period of technological change that transformed the fundamental structure of the economy, altered the nature of the family and challenged the social norms that had previously been known in America. Of all the new appliances to enter the nation's homes during the 1920s, none had a more revolutionary…

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 1920’s are often referred to as the roaring twenties. It was the time of economic prosperity and technological advances. More and more Americans were relocating into cities instead of rural areas. The wealth of the nation nearly doubled resulting in America becoming a consumer society (Mintz & McNeil). Spending was at an all time high; Americans spent their money on new items including electric refrigerators and radios. One of the most notable consumer products sold during this time was the automobile (History.com).…

    • 649 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 1920s was widely-known as the age of prosperity. With the economy booming, daily life was much easier and more enjoyable because of new technological advances and emerging forms of entertainment. The development of cars, both negatively and positively impacted America. The influx of automobile ownership was very demanding and became a part of everyday life. Henry Ford’s contribution to the auto industry revolutionized society and bettered the economy. Autos gave people more freedom, expanded social interaction, paved roads and traffic lights, created jobs, and etc. Even though the positive effects seem to outweigh the negative impact, it’s necessary to take into consideration the cons cars have. Car accidents, rebellious behavior, and pollutions…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cars allow us to cross the United States in a matter of days, whereas before automobiles, the journey would be a long and hard one to make. They also increase productivity and global span of a company's products. It has also created jobs and new communities as well as increased social activity. They increased knowledge about America as well as in other countries.…

    • 414 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “The automobile industry entered the mainstream in the 1920s. Finally, the average family could consider owning a car. Manufacturers had found ways to make cars more efficiently, and safer to drive.” (Retrowaste, first page). Roads and bridges were being built for cars to drive on.…

    • 868 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The economic change in the 1920s helped build the landscape for modern workers in America. Manufacturing plants began to pop up across the country in various places such as Detroit and people like Henry Ford pioneered the way for mass production (pg 689,693). Along with the changes in the way people work, changes in the economy also gave people the time and ability to have leisure time and to take interest in hobbies.…

    • 299 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people were getting access to electricity, allowing them to be able to use and enjoy the new technologies of the 1920’s. The major advances in technology that occurred in the 1920’s in America were responsible for significant changes in the lifestyle of the typical citizen. More than half of American households had electricity and were buying new technology. Electricity was available to many people, which meant that they could buy technology, like appliances and radios, which made chores easier and people got a news update faster, instead of having to wait for tomorrow’s paper. Technology was making new entertainment possible and was providing it to most people.…

    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The automobile drastically altered the way people lived and worked by allowing Americans the freedom to travel where they wanted. Henry Ford was responsible for the mass production of the automobile by two methods. First he priced his car to be as affordable as possible and second he paid his workers enough to be able to purchase the cars they were manufacturing. This system helped push wages and auto sales upward and…

    • 785 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    This was a huge positive impact on the US because it greatly decreased the unemployment role. With the car came increased social activity people interacted more due to the fact that traveling to social events wasn't a large commitment anymore. This led to more cultural diversity and increased nationwide interaction in the 20’s. When cars were in the US it gave many people ability to escape the household and into social world. As the cars increased in popularity people began to engage the social world like social events and family outings became more rare.…

    • 1347 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    History of Cars

    • 892 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Davey, Monica. "The Car That Changed America: How Henry Ford 's 1908 Model Tthe First Mass-produced and Affordable Carsparked the Growth of Highways, Surburbs, and the Middle Class Itself." CBS Interactive. CBS Interactive Business Network, 11 Feb. 2008. Web. 15 March 2013. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BUE/is_9_140/ai_n24265445/>.…

    • 892 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The automobile has been one of the most life changing inventions. The invention of vehicles have changed our lives and made transportation much more easier. Furthermore, before the invention of automobiles, many people used other ways of transportation such as: donkeys, horses, camels, bicycles, etc. Those types of transportations from the past would mean people would’ve been traveling for days depending on their destination and weather conditions. The automobile has became a huge part of the American culture, so this makes it almost impossible to do your daily schedule without owning a vehicle. However, those people were left with no other choice, until the first automobile was invented, but that did not mean every person could afford a vehicle. Especially craft, which was hand made individually, and customly made to the buyers expectations. However, Henry Ford invented the assembly line which made car production much more easier and efficient compared to craft production. Now the processes of building vehicles is much easier and the mass production. Both craft and mass has their pros and cons which depends on the buyer.…

    • 1106 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Lets Go

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages

    A car has to be one of the most important inventions of all time, after the wheel that is. The car or automobile changed the world as we know it. It has allowed us to travel vast distances and get from point A to point B fairly quickly. A car is extremely important in American life due to the fact that life today is extremely fast movie. There are always people traveling everywhere. People rely on cars as there method of transportation. Its popularity is due to its ability to accommodate our desire for individualism, freedom and power. The automobile embodies deep-seated cultural and emotional values that have become an important part of our American culture.…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays