Journalism / Henry Ford
Essay on Henry Ford
If we define "influence" in terms of direct change in the fundamental circumstances of human lives, it is very hard to identify anyone whose influence has been both more widespread and more beneficial to America than Henry Ford's. Ford pioneered middle-class dimensions for working class people.
He didn't invent modern industry. He didn't invent interchangeable parts or the assembly line. He did however combine these elements and revolutionized the meaning of automobile manufacturing. He also did this intentionally. Henry Ford did not just want to make money building and selling cars. He wanted to make cars that everyday people with ordinary incomes could afford to buy. He wanted to establish the automobile to be as common a household item as a radio. No longer would it just be the privilege of the suede intellectual or rich playboy to own an automobile.
In the early years of the 20th century, that sounded more like a delusion than a dream. The newly invented automobile was a luxury, and there was no reason to believe it would ever be anything else. In 1907, just 4 years after the incorporation of Ford Motor Company, Ford declared: "I will build a motorcar for the great multitude . . . it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one . . ." (Lacey p. 93).
The car was the Model T and it would soon become domestically and internationally famous. It wasn't cheap in 1908, selling for the equivalent of a teacher's salary. In a fortunate turn of events after World War One, economies of scale had made the Model T so affordable that they accounted for half of the automobiles in the entire world. As Robert Lacey put it: "The Model T converted a plaything of the European rich into the birthright of the American masses . . ." I am rather fond of that quote because it puts the gravity of Henry Fords contributions into perspective.
Upon closer inspection though the Model T and Henry Ford actually did more then that. Ford proved that one of the crucial charges in the Marxist criticism of capitalism was incorrect. Marx asserted that capitalist economics would never afford the working class anything beyond the necessities of life. While academic scholars fought over whether this was true, the Detroit carmaker proved that it was anything but true. Because of Henry Ford’s efforts, by the end of the 1920's there was one car per every 5 persons in the U.S. Mathematically it roughly works out to equal one car for every family in America. This landmark was met in an age when Ford cars had to be paid for in cash!
In the same way that all politics is local, Ford instinctively knew that the auto industry had to follow suite. Ford's "road men" were to be a familiar aspect in America. By 1912 nearly 7,000 Ford dealerships sprang up all across the country. In every big city and small town the name of Ford was known. Ford also provided his workers with salaries, which for their time were very generous. As he might have planned the first thing his workers bought with their newly acquired high salaries were Model T cars. Today Ford provides factory jobs for about 45,000 UAW-represented workers in the U.S., and 54,000 factory workers in North America. Also there are approximately 5,000 Ford dealerships providing jobs to thousands more across America.
At the same time Ford worked to develop an automotive infrastructure that would keep pace with the cars. Ford pushed to have gas and service stations built everywhere across America. When he noticed his cars bouncing wildly over dirt roads previously used for horses he pushed for better roads. The result of which led to the creation of an interstate-highway system that is still the envy of the world.
Just try to imagine America without automobiles for the masses. In today’s society it is almost inconceivable not to own and operate a motor vehicle. Unless you are in a city with a developed mass transit system, which doesn’t run like shit, you pretty much rely on an affordable automobile to get you where you need to go. As my Speech Communication professor Mr. Fitzgerald often comments, “ the way Jacksonville is set up you have to drive your car to get to the bathroom.”
Henry Ford's revolution wasn't technological or even industrial in nature. It was a revolution in the standard of living – a revolution of the money a worker earns and what that money can purchase. Long before Keynesianism; before redistribute economic policies and before the subsidized capitalism of the military-industrial complex hit America. Henry Ford pioneered middle-class dimensions for working class people. Ford irrevocably proved that capitalism works not just for the capitalists, but for everyone.
Citations Page
Lacey, Robert. Ford: the men and the machine. 1st. McClelland and Stewart,
1986. Print.
A. A. M., "The life of Henry Ford." The Henry Ford
(2003) Web.27 Jul 2009. .
Telecom Exchange - Issue 2, April/May,2001 Web.27 Jul 2009. URL:
http://ita-relay.com/magazine/PWARCHIVES/telecom-exchange8.htm
IACOCCA, LEE. "Time 100: Henry Ford." Time Magazine 07 DEC 1998 Web.27 Jul 2009. /ford.html>.
Watts, Steven. The People's Tycoon: Henry Ford and the American Century.
A.A. Knopf, 2005. Print.
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This was a very informative essay, with a good standpoint of opinion being expressed without saying anything like ‘He’s cool… because.” It shows that you did your research and I was very happy to see your sources sited on the bottom.
“the Model T so affordable that they accounted for half of the automobiles in the entire world.” – I didn’t know this. As a reader I was impacted enough to stop and think about it. Half of all cars owned in the world were the same kind? It’s hard to imagine.
“The Model T converted a plaything of the European rich into the birthright of the American masses . . .” – great quote, it really helps pull together your point. Though, I would change this line: “I am rather fond of that quote because it puts the gravity of Henry Fords contributions into perspective.” You should remove “I am rather fond of that” and just say “This quote…” It makes it sound a little more professional when you don’t directly tell your opinion. Show it instead.
“developed mass transit system, which doesn’t run like shit, you pretty much rely on an affordable automobile” – “developed mass transit system, you rely on an affordable automobile…”
“Keynesianism; before” Put a coma instead of a semi colon
“not just for the capitalists, but for everyone.” – “capitalists, but also…”
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