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Assignment #3 Importance of the Automobile
Just over a century ago, steamships, canals, railroads, and the
telegraph were up and running. They were the technological marvels
of the 19th century, setting the stage for the 20th century. Yet the
19th century invention that would spark a revolution in transportation
was a simple two-wheeler - the bicycle. Its popularity in the 1880s and 1890s spurred interest in the nation's
roads. However, it was the car that was destined to dominate the new roads in the United States in the New
Century.
Henry Ford - American car manufacturer, (1863 -1947) invented an improved
assembly line and installed the first conveyor belt-based assembly line in his car
factory in Ford's Highland Park, Michigan plant, around 1913-14. The assembly
line reduced production costs for cars by reducing assembly time. Ford's famous
Model T was assembled in ninety-three minutes. Ford made his first car, called
the "Quadricycle," in June, 1896. However, success came after he formed the
Ford Motor Company in 1903. This was the third car manufacturing company
formed to produce the cars he designed. He introduced the Model T in 1908 and
it was a success. After installing the moving assembly lines in his factory in 1913,
Ford became the world's biggest car manufacturer. By 1927, 15 million Model Ts
had been manufactured.
One of the first important and busy highways in America was Route 66.
1. How many States did it go
through?__________
2. What city/State did it begin
in?___________________
End in? _______________
3. Use textbook: How many miles long was
it?_____________
4. Which state had the longest
portion of road?____________
5. How did it affect the cities and states that it went through economically?_________________________________
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6. Name every business/job/industry/invention you can think of that was invented or is
affected by the invention of the automobile. (# them as you go, etc. 1,2,3,…)
7. In your newly aware/educated opinion, do you think the failure of the American automobile
industry is a problem in America or just the beginning of a new phase in America?
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FYI: The importance of automobile industry to US economy today - 2010?
Why is the importance of automobile industry so great, that the collapse of big 3 car makers (Ford,
GM, Chrysler) can send the U.S. economy into recession/depression?
1. Direct employment by car companies (blue and white collar jobs)
2. Direct employment by suppliers
3. Direct employment by other vendors
4. Direct employment by local companies that support the industry (restaurants, airlines, hotels, dry
cleaners, city governments, & on & on)
5. Pension and health care for millions of retirees
6. Tax revenue from all above companies and employees
7. Technology - The auto industry is the source of a significant amount of technology in our country.
Without technology, we will fall farther behind, having no competitive advantage in the world.
These are each huge amounts of money. It also does not excuse the lack of foresight of the company
execs or crazy union contracts, but helps explain the importance of the industry.
Toyota, Nissan, etc, might be the substitutes. This may be flawed because in the U.S., they have a small
fraction of the white collar jobs, suppliers, technology development, technology purchases, taxes (they
pay almost no state taxes), and retirees (they are new to the scene), and cash profits. Etc.