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History of the automobile essay
The automobile in the early 1900s
History of the automobile essay
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The Invention of The Automobile
The first automobile was invented in Europe, however the automobile industry had an enormous favorable impact on the United States economy.(Brown,
329) There was not one specific person who "invented the automobile," but, there were many people who contributed to the invention of the automobile.(Ingrassia, 5) (Boyne, 31) These people include Isaac Newton, who developed a power carriage in the fourteen twenties, and Joseph Cugnot, who built the first steam powered automobile in seventeen sixty nine. The first American to develop an automobile was Nathan Redd.(Brown, 329) The use of the automobile in the United States became common due to the convenience and reliability of a quick, easy to operate source of transportation. The American people began to build their homes further from their jobs, and further from civilization because they could commute back and forth much more quickly.(Simanaitis, 337) The convenience, reliability, and easy commute were only a few positive effects of the development of the automobile in the United States. The invention of the automobile also directly stimulated the economical growth and success of the United States.
One of the industries that prospered due to the automobile industry, was the oil industry. Automobiles ran on gas, so the demand for gas, or oil, was high.
The oil companies had to get the oil that was found in the south and then refine this oil to make it ready to power the automobiles.(Automobile 814) Due to this high demand of oil for the use in automobiles, the oil companies, such as Standard Oil, could impose a high price on oil. (Jones, 112) This high price caused the oil companies to obtain a large profit, which i...
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...on 1995 (volume 2)
2. Lamm, John. "Automobile" Collier's Encyclopedia 1996 Edition (volume 3)
3. Encyclopedia Brittanica Inc. "Automobile" The New Encyclopedia Brittanica: Macropedia 15th Edition 1990 (volume 1)
4. Simanaitis, Dennis. "Automobile" Encyclopedia Americana Deluxe Library Edition 1997 (volume 2)
5. Appel, Robert. "Automobile" Grolier's Encyclopedia 1986 edition (volume 2)
6. Sedowick, Michael. Cars of the Thirties and Forties. New Jersey: Morristown,1986
7. Burgess, David W. The Illustrated History of Road Transport. Nashville: Tennessee, 1991
8. Ingrassia, Paul J. Comeback: The Rise and Fall of the American Automobile. New York: New York, 1988
9. Boyne, Walter J. The History of the American automobile. New York: New York, 1988
10. Jones, Ronald K. Ford's Unlikely Hero. Massachusetts: Boston, 1986
At the turn of the century there was a new law named “Capture” therefore; whoever produced the oil owned the oil. If you did not produce the oil then somebody else would be willing to produce the oil. The consequences if the production of the well ran dried out weight the reward. “Oilmen were not the only ones who knew that production was often short-lived; bankers quickly learned that no prudent lenders extended a loan on the basis of oil production. “ It was a reality that oil production started of strong and quickly dropped off within a matter of a couple months. The risk was not worth the reward for either party which is the bakers or the oilmen. The ferocious cycles from boom to bust, from having more than enough oil to not enough would swing the price for oil up and down like a roll coaster. When a new oil field came in, the local markets hand more than enough oil, pushing the prices lower, making oil more affordable. However, whenever the oil production dropped it would send the prices sky rocketing making it unprofitable to stay in business. Pattillo Higgins would be willing to take on this challenge head on of producing oil. [Who is Higgins, Ernest? By giving at least a short introduction the readers w...
In the July 1997 issue of Commentary, James Q. Wilson challenges the consensus among academia’s finest regarding the automobile in his bold article, Cars and Their Enemies. Directed towards the general public, his article discredits many of the supposed negatives of the automobile raised by experts, proves that the personal car is thriving and will continue to thrive because it meets individual preference over other means of transportation, as well as presents solutions to the social costs of cars. Wilson emphasizes that no matter what is said and done in eliminating the social costs of the automobile, experts are not going to stop campaigning against it.
Flink’s Three stages of American automobile consciousness fully express the progress of the whole automobile industry. From the first model T to the automatic production, it gives me an intuitive feeling of the automobile history from a big picture. On the other hand, Kline and Pinch focus more on a certain group of people--farmers or people who live in the rural area, they use it as an entry point to talk about automobile, alone with the role and duty transition between male and
In the twentieth century, the introduction of the motor vehicle in the United States became not only noteworthy, but also vital in the development of modern American civilization. This technologically complex machine led citizens to vast future dependence on the invention. While mobility was suddenly not limited to alternative, more convoluted options such as railroad stations or bicycles, yet copiously amplified to aid convenience and expanded leisure opportunities. From auto-racing to redesigning infrastructure, motor vehicles allowed progression, digression, and essentially uttermost change to the lifestyles of the American people. This radical idea of the automobile permeated throughout America with most, if not all, credit renowned to Henry Ford.
The 1920's were a time where North America became modernized. Whether it was the music, the culture or the growth in technology, this time era is known to most people as the point where America advanced itself to become a world renowned country. An advancement that will be focused on is the Ford Model T. During this time owning a car was a symbol of wealth. Henry Ford, the creator of the Model T, made a system that revolutionized the automobile industry as we know it today. Henry Ford made it possible for people with an average income to own a motor vehicle by creating the assembly line and the theory of mass production. "The horse, which had been the chief means of land transportation for 3,500 years, had given way to the automobile, and the country's largest industry had been born." (Gordon)
The Standard Oil Company sparked a lot of interest among Americans because they were interested in how one man could become so rich. This caused the oil industry to become more popular and grow tremendously. More Americans were becoming more familiar with kerosene, which was used for cooking, heating, and in lamps. Henry Ford created a car that was more affordable for average people when Rockefeller discovered gasoline as a byproduct of kerosene.
The United States was also in the process of industrialization. Industries were built and electricity was the new form of power. Electric lights became available and the first movies were made. "By 1916, 21,000 movie houses were testimony of a new industry" (Hacker and Zahler 99). Automobiles became prevalent and that caused the need for roads to be built: "The early growth of the automobile industry wakened a new and much stronger demand for surfaced roads" (Hacker and Zahler 101). Henry Ford was a major contributor in propelling the automobile industry. He improved the assembly line and mass production of parts. "By 1914, the automobile industry had developed such characteristic features as standardization of parts, minute subdivision and mechanization of labor, and even the assembly line in manufacturing" (Hacker and Zahler 100). The United States experienced great social and industrial change on a national scale as well as international scale.
As early as the 1870’s, the American public started putting all their work and effort into the growth and development of only a few industries like the Automobile industry. The
The automobile industry was the reason behind the mass production of materials needed to construct a vehicle and new roads, by using the assembly line method brought about by Henry Ford. After seeing how successful the automobile industry was doing, it lead to an increase in motor related occupations like insurance, agents, and gas stations. Then, as the concept of sub-urbanizing occurred to many, the development of schools, commercial constructions, hospitals and other attractions grew enormously (Faue). As the automobile sales prompted many new industries for the need of common goods, the life of an American was changing quickly and even more jobs opened up. This domino effect that arose from automobiles was innovating America and brought more choices to the common person since he or she is opened to such vast markets. Ultimately, the automobile started a chain reaction that resulted in numerous new companies opening for business, which fueled the US economy. Ergo, the concept of consumerism grew where people decided what they want to buy, and that economic shift is what lead to the bloom of the US economy in the
The American people themselves were greatly affected by the automobile, in negative ways as well as positive. Rur...
In this year Henry Ford created the first affordable, combustion engine car called the Model-T. The creation of the Model-T changed the lives of every American. Vehicles were looked at as a way of freedom and excitement. Soon after, every household in America had a car. The demand for vehicles sparked a whole new industry, creating jobs, more revenues and improving the American economy in every way. With so many vehicles on the roads, roads needed to become bigger and better which spawned a nation wide road construction. This also created more jobs and strengthened the economy even further. (Inventions: Car)
Nelson, Walter E. Small Wonder: The Amazing Story of the Volkswagen. (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1970). 213-220.
Wachs, Martin. "The Automobile and Gender: an Historical Perspective." University of Califonia Journal. Proquest. Richter Library, Miami.
So what was the original thinking behind the car? Well to get a person and their family from point A to point B in a faster time than a horse. And it has evolved greatly ever since, even starting to loop back to Edison’s original plan for an electric car. So its safe to say that that the automobile is one of, if not, the most influential inventions on the United states.
Web. "The Future of the Automobile in the Urban Environment. " Bulletin of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 45.7 (1992): 7-22. Web.