An Industrial Nation How did individuals such as Henry Ford change the face of American transportation?

Few inventors had a greater effect on American life than the Model T by Henry Ford. Most cars were expensive, but Ford was able to sell his car at a low price because all Model Ts were built using an assembly line. This system allowed Ford to sell his cars for $500, half the price of other cars.

Ford also paid his workers $5 a day, while the average factory worker earned $2.34 a day. By 1920 half of the cars in the world were Model Ts.

By 1929 there were about 26 million cars in the US By 1929 there were about 26 million cars in the US. This huge increase of ownership changed the entire nation. Farmers were now able to move their crops to market faster and more reliable than by horse and wagon.

Soon the growing number of cars lead to a demand for better roads Soon the growing number of cars lead to a demand for better roads. State and local governments used tax money to improve road conditions. Tickets were issued to bad drivers.

The increase in automobiles created new jobs The increase in automobiles created new jobs. Factories needed workers to build cars. Construction workers were needed to build roads. Auto repair shops opened up, hotels, gas stations, and restaurants opened for travelers.

Cars gave Americans a kind of freedom they had never had before Cars gave Americans a kind of freedom they had never had before. Now people could live further from their jobs. People moved to communities at the edge of cities. On weekends, American families would drive to the country to go sight seeing. Sunday drives became a weekly custom.