Henry Ford

At a time when there were only little more than wagon trails, Henry Ford was able to see the capabilities and convenience that the car would bring to America. He completely transformed the entire face of the United States, introduced new assembly methods, and improved wages thus virtually starting the American middle class. All of this couldn’t have been done without the introduction of the Model T. A car that made owning an automobile (usually only reserved for the rich) available for every working class American. But that was only one part of the many different aspects Henry Ford did in his lifetime. He was also very into politics and airplanes. He was almost elected into the US Senate, but lost by a small margin. He also was the first to introduce the tri-motor airplane. He became an icon to all working class Americans because he came from humble beginnings and even that didn’t phase him from becoming one of the greatest industrialists of his time. He has said “There is one rule for the industrialist and that is: Make the best quality of goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible.” Proving that he cared for quality and good-paying jobs.

                    Henry Ford’s Model T revolutionized the American landscape. It made roads, garages, and gas stations, a staple of the typical American town. The Model T was available in many different configurations. Some were available as a typical family car, and others were converted for business use (such as vans and trucks). This type of variability, including its price (which went down from $850 in 1909, to $290 in the 1920’s), helped to make a car available to a new breed of social class, the middle class. But when he developed