How did Henry Ford change the world?
Learning objective – to be able to explain
the impact of Henry Ford’s mass
production techniques.
I can describe how
mass
production
worked in the car
industry.
Grade D
I can explain some
of the ways mass
production changed
the way people lived
in 1920s USA.
Grade B
I can explain and assess
the economic and social
impact
of
mass
production on the USA .
Grade A
Starter question – what percentage
of cars in America in 1926 were
made by Henry Ford?
50% of cars in America in 1926
were made by Henry Ford.
Who was Henry Ford?
Henry Ford was from a farming family of
immigrants from Ireland and Holland.
He had an interest in mechanics and was
self-taught, building his own petrol-driven
car in 1896.
He loved car racing and used the winnings
from racing to set up his own business –
Henry Ford Motor Company in Detroit.
He was frustrated in the length of time it
took to make cars and, in 1911, started
experimenting with an assembly line and
mass production techniques in order to
quicken production.
What were the key principles
behind mass production?
Standardisation - Ford made just one kind
of car so that all the parts were a standard
size and shape. This saved on time, labour
and money.
Division of labour – each worker worked
on a specific part of making the car. This
made assembly much quicker as each
worker became an expert on a specific
task.
Moving assembly line – each worker
stayed in one place as a the car was
moved to them on a conveyor belt.
All this quickened production to the
extent that a car was made in 1 hour and
33 minutes compared with 12 hours
beforehand.
How did the assembly line work?
What was the Model T?
Ford’s Model T car became
– an affordable car for
ordinary people’.
Although it was slow and
ugly, it was reliable and easy
to maintain. It also became
very cheap to build. It was
black because the paint was
the quickest to dry.
By 1926, 50% of cars on the
road was a Model T.
What was the impact of mass
production techniques?
Imitation – many other industries – particular those making domestic goods –
copied Ford’s mass production template.
Cheaper goods – mass production allowed goods to become cheaper as they were
made faster and cheaper. Model T car cost $850 in 1919- in 1926 the same car cost
$295. More people could now own luxury goods.
Employment opportunities – not only did car factories need more workers but so
did the linked industries. For example, 75% of leather, glass and rubber were used
by the car industry. 4 million workers in total depended on the car industry.
Spending power – with more employment opportunities more people had more
money to spend.
Travel – with the growth of the car more money was invested in road building and
garages meaning travelling became quicker and easier more often meaning people
were spreading their spending.
Tasks
Complete the tasks on the worksheet. These tasks will
help you make the key notes on mass production.
Extension tasks
Design an advert for a Model-T car highlighting its key
selling points.
OR
Design a job advert for a worker at Henry Ford Motor
Company.