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Henry Ford's influence in world culture
Henry Ford's influence in world culture
Henry Ford’s effect on the automobile industry and society
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Henry Ford’s Fascist Sympathies Henry Ford, founder of Ford motor company, is most well known as an icon of American manufacturing and ingenuity. A lesser known aspect of Ford’s history is his fascist leanings and blatant anti-Semitism. Ford ruled over Dearborn Michigan as a de facto dictator, employing fascist tactics to control his workforce. His anti-Semitic writings influenced Adolf Hitler, who expressed admiration for the famed automobile industrialist. Ford’s company was instrumental in supplying the German military with vehicles during World War II even as they refused to assist the allies. Ford’s racist and corporatist views made him an idol of the National Socialists. In 1931, Dearborn Michigan was the headquarters of the Ford motor …show more content…
In “The Dark Legacy of Henry Ford 's Anti-Semitism”, an article in the Washington Post, journalist James Rudin described how Hitler was influenced by Ford. Hitler is quoted in the article as stating “You can tell Herr Ford that I am a great admirer of his, I shall do my best to put his theories into practice in Germany .... I regard Henry Ford as my inspiration.” (Rudin). In the article, Rudin indicated that Ford was the only American mentioned by name in Mein Kampf where Hitler wrote "Every year they manage to become increasingly the controlling masters of the labor power of a people of 120,000,000 souls; one great man, Ford, to their exasperation still holds out independently there even now" ("The Dearborn Independent") . Passages from the infamous book seem to be lifted directly from Ford’s publications. In 1938, on his 75th birthday, Henry Ford became the first American to receive the highest Nazi award for distinguished foreigners, the Grand Cross of the German
In the early twentieth century a prominent Michigan business man fathered the American automobile industry. This innovative engineer and machinist would revolutionize the world’s manufacturing techniques with the advent of the “moving assembly line” technique for mass production. Henry Ford’s innovations would forever change transportation and American industry. With his acquired wealth and power, Ford turned his head towards politics. In 1918 Ford became the leading candidate for a Michigan senate seat; however he was unable to achieve this goal. What caused Henry Ford to lose his senatorial bid?
Henry Ford was a captain of industry. He owned Ford Motors, which was an automobile company. Ford was a man who always wanted his own way and he got it most of the time. The creation he is most famous for is the FORD MODEL T, the car for the commoners. His car became an instant hit amongst the people- the local people and the working class of people because it was very affordable and was not just for the rich. Ford was a very successful businessman but not particularly a nice guy. He expected a lot from his workers but thing is that he also cared for his workers, because he knew that not only were they dependent on him but also that he depended upon them, they were the ones due to which he was gaining popularity and success throughout America. Ford’s great strength was the manufacturing process for his cars. Instead of having people put together the entire car he created organized teams that added parts to the Model T as it moved down the assembly line, this lowered the production prices and also the time and energy required to put together the cars.
Gerald Ford was the 38th president of the United States of America. He became president right after Richard Nixon resigned in 1974. This was not an expected time to have a new president. Ford said, “I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances … This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts (thewhitehouse.gov pg. 1).” While Ford had not planned to be a president, he still did great tasks, served 25 years in Congress, and he did his best.
The automobile went from being a toy for society’s elite to being an essential item within the economic reach of nearly every American, all thanks to the hard work and ingenuity of Henry Ford. His dedication to quality and attention to detail earned him not only dozens of racing titles, but also the reputation of a respectable businessman. Ford understood his market so well that he knew what the people wanted before they could even ask for it, always ahead of the curve. Ford was a pioneer of American commercialism, and so his production methods were centred around efficiency and mass production, thus allowing him to increase productivity and decrees cost to meet the demand of the masses. Lastly, consideration of the working class and philosophy of raising the wages instead of raising the price point and focusing only on profit. There are a great many lessons to be learned from distinguished businessmen in history, and Henry Ford is no
Henry Ford is responsible for “perhaps the most revolutionary development in industrial history.” (Watts 2005,
Ford's underhanded assault upon Jews is also his unusual attempt at motivating the Gentiles. It is clear that Ford maintains his prejudice, but he does so by highlighting the strengths that he sees within the Jewish people. Ford also calls Jews, "he and his" which retains the social separation of the time, implying that the Jewish man leads their cause. Henry Ford, founder and owner of the Ford Motor Company m...
Henry Ford was one of the most brilliant entrepreneurs in creating the automobile assembly line, it was his controversial characteristics and unorthodox approach towards administrating the Ford Motor Company which resulted in the conglomeration of one of the most successful corporations in the world. At the turn of the century everything was booming! The growth of the economy and stock market increased the job opportunities as well as morals. As a result of this industrial revolution, out of the woodwork came a humble yet driven man, Henry Ford. Between the five dollar/day plan, his policies on administrating the company, and his relations with his customers, Ford was often presented as a suspicious character. This controversial behavior epitomized the success of the company, it did not lead to his own downfall as many suspect. The Anti-Semitic accusations, and the belief that Ford was taking advantage of his customers, were by far overshadowed by his brillianc!e and strong hand in running his company.
James Cross Giblin (born July 8,1993) is an American author of the book, “The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler.” Growing up in Ohio, Giblin worked on school newspapers and wrote a play at the Western Reserve University. It was later on published in the year 1954. After years of hard work in writing plays, he hasn’t succeeded to publish more. In 1954, the author attempted to get his master’s degree in New York at the Columbia University in which he succeeded. After that, he set off to work at the British Book Centre, which was the big step that would lead him into publishing. Giblin next changed to be an editor-in-chief in Seabury Press of children’s division, Clarion books. He went back to being a contributing editor in 1989 so that he could write more with the hopes of publishing his books. He then published his first book, “The Scarecrow Book.” He then wrote more and more books, which received many different kinds of awards. This man wrote mostly about historical characters such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Adolf Hitler. The book I read about Hitler was one of many books from this author, of which many received awards. “The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler” received the Sibert Award in 2003.
The idea of a people's car appealed to Porsche, and it fascinated Adolf Hitler. When the Nazi Party came to power in 1933, one of his pet notions was the concept of motoring for the masses, and a meeting with Porsche was to be a meeting of minds. Once again Porsche was commissioned to design a popular car, and when the first ludicrously tight financial limits were relaxed he accepted the technical challenge.
Who was once a hero, was now the villain in many regards; he was the protagonist at first, and after, became the antagonist after his fortune took over his morality. Henry Ford had well-meaning intentions at first. Truly wanting to connect the world, he wanted to create a car that everyone can afford and be able to enjoy. Although he achieved his goal of creating this car, the model T, several unintentional controversial ideologies were established along with it.
...ttitudes, habits, and values. He believed, “These men of many nations must be taught the American ways, the English language, and the right way to live (Gjerde 325). By developing new and different strategies for the management of immigrants in the workforce, Henry Ford was able to emphasize conformity to American social, cultural, and industrial values (Gjerde 332). As a result, these programs allowed for America to preserve its Anglo-Saxon identity at a time when national unity was in limbo. Although the gates of entry had closed, the gates to a pluralistic, unified society had opened.
This radical idea of the automobile permeated throughout America with most, if not all credit renowned to Henry Ford. Observed as a technological mastermind, Ford commenced experiments involving machinery from the time he was adolescent to launching his career working at the Edison Illuminating Company. He examined internal combustion engines and gasoline buggy ideas eventually resulting in removing himself from Edison’s company and his introduction in the emerging automobile industry. Following in 1903, he established the Ford Motor Company, which expeditiously became a leader in the automotive industry and would gain extensive wealth within only a few decades. While other manufacturers strove to produce automobiles to be extravagant and luxurious predominantly for the wealthy, he immensely focused on efficient mass production of durable, affordable vehicles for the expanding middle-class market.
Ford's international reputation made him a natural target for journalists. His libel suit against the Chicago Tribune in 1919 led to an examination by the Tribune attorney, intended to show Ford's lack of education. Anti-Semitic articles in Ford's Dearborn Independent brought further legal controversy; he was forced to apologize for the articles. In the 1930s, Ford was widely attacked for employing Harry Bennett, a former boxer who established a squad of thugs to spy, beat up, and otherwise intimidate union organizers. Ford was also a poor manager who failed to capitalize on his company's early success. In the 1920s he failed to respond to consumer tastes by introducing new models and the company fell far behind General Motors.
When Henry Ford was born on June 30th, 1863, neither him nor anyone for that matter, knew what an important role he would take in the future of mankind. Ford saw his first car when he was 12. He and his father where riding into Detroit at the time. At that moment, he knew what he wanted to do with his life: he wanted to make a difference in the automobile industry. Through out his life, he achieved this in an extraordinary way. That is why he will always be remembered in everyone’s heart. Whenever you drive down the road in your car, you can thank all of it to Henry Ford. Through his life he accomplished extraordinary achievements such as going from a poor farm boy to a wealthy inventor who helped Thomas Edison. When he was a young man, he figured out how to use simple inventions, such as the light bulb. He then taught himself the design of a steamboat engine. His goal was to build a horse-less carriage. He had come up with several designs and in 1896, he produced his first car, the Model A. When Ford’s first car came out, he had been interviewed by a reporter and when asked about the history of the car, he had said “History is more or less bunk.” Ford worked in Thomas Edison’s factory for years and the left to become an apprentice for a car-producer in Detroit. While working there, he established how he was going to make the car.
Henry Ford was one of the most important and influential inventors and businessmen in the short history of America. He revolutionized the business world and he changed forever the efficiency of factories around the world. One of the reasons that Henry Ford can be considered such an important man is that his ideas and concepts are still used today. Boron on July 30, in the year of 1863, Henry Ford was the oldest child of the family. His parents, William and Mary Ford, were “prosperous farmers” in his hometown of Dearborn. While they we’re well off for farmers, Ford certainly wasn’t spoiled and fed from silver spoons. Ford was just like any other typical young boy during the rural nineteenth century. From early on there we’re signs that Henry was going to be something more than a farmer. He looked with interest upon the machinery that his father and himself used for their farming, and looked with disdain at the rigorous chores of a farmer. In the year 1879, Henry being a meager 16 years old, he moved to the city of Detroit where he would work as an apprentice machinist. Henry would remain in Detroit working and learning about all varieties of machines. Although he occasionally came back to visit Dearborn, he mostly stayed in Detroit, picking up more and more valuable knowledge. This apprenticeship allowed him to work in the factories of Detroit and learn what a hard working blue-collar job was like. When he did return to Dearborn he was always tearing apart and rebuilding his fathers machines, along with the dreaded farm chores. Henry Ford was a hard worker and that was proven by him getting fired from one of his jobs in Detroit because the older employees we’re mad at him because he was finishing his repairs in a half hour rather than the usual five hours. Clara Bryant would represent the next step in now twenty-five year old Henry Ford’s life. The two lovers we’re married in 1888 and would endure good times as well as bad. In order to support his new wife Henry was forced to work the land as he ran a sawmill that was given to him by his father. His father actually attempted to bribe Henry to stay in the farming business as he gave him the land only under the condition that he would continue on as a farmer.