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Alice Crosby
13/12/2025
History
Ford and the motor industry
Ford and the Motor Industry Revolution
You've probably heard of Henry Ford, but did you know he completely changed how things are made? Before 1913, cars were handcrafted by skilled workers, making them incredibly expensive - only 4,000 cars existed in 1900! Ford's genius was creating the world's first moving production line in Detroit, where each worker did just one or two simple tasks as car frames moved past them.
This mass production system was absolutely game-changing. The famous Model T Ford rolled off the line at one car every ten seconds by 1927, with over 15 million produced in total. Car production skyrocketed from 4,000 in 1900 to 4.8 million by 1929.
The motor industry became America's biggest employer and had a ripple effect across the economy. It consumed 75% of America's glass production and created jobs in steel, rubber, leather, and oil industries. Road construction alone became the single largest employer as America built infrastructure for its car-obsessed society.
Cars weren't just for the wealthy anymore - America had 1 car per 5 people (compared to 1 per 43 in Britain). This sparked suburban house-building and countless small businesses from petrol stations to roadside diners.
Key Point: Ford's production line didn't just change car manufacturing - it revolutionised how everything could be made quickly and cheaply.
American Attitudes Towards Wealth
The 1920s flipped traditional American values on their head. Suddenly, prosperity wasn't just nice to have - Americans thought it was their right. The dream was simple: a lovely house, steady job, plenty of food, and a home packed with the latest gadgets.
Consuming became the new patriotic duty. Where previous generations valued thrift and saving money, 1920s Americans believed spending was better for everyone. The more you bought, the more American you were!
The Reality of Inequality
Whilst billionaires like the Rockefeller family and industrialists like Henry Ford were getting richer, more than half of Americans remained stuck in or near poverty. This included most African Americans and recent immigrants who were largely shut out of the boom.
Farmers - a huge chunk of American society - actually got poorer during the prosperity decade. Their income crashed from 13 billion in 1928. The problem was simple: they were producing too much, which drove prices down.
Workers in traditional industries like coal, leather, and textiles also missed out. Coal faced competition from electricity, whilst leather and textile workers saw their jobs threatened by new synthetic materials like nylon and rayon. Even when their companies made bigger profits, wages didn't rise to match.
The most shocking statistic? Unemployment stayed at 5% throughout the boom - the same rate as 1920, even though production had doubled. New technology meant more goods could be made with fewer workers.
Key Point: This inequality was economically dangerous - if millions couldn't afford to buy goods, who would keep the consumer boom going?
The Republican government refused to help the unemployed or poor, believing the market would sort itself out. This hands-off approach would soon prove disastrous as the consumer-led boom relied on people having money to spend.
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
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The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
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In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The Impact of Ford on the American Motor Industry
The 1920s in America was a decade of massive change, driven by revolutionary new industries like car manufacturing. Whilst some Americans became incredibly wealthy, the prosperity wasn't shared equally across society.
Ford and the Motor Industry Revolution
You've probably heard of Henry Ford, but did you know he completely changed how things are made? Before 1913, cars were handcrafted by skilled workers, making them incredibly expensive - only 4,000 cars existed in 1900! Ford's genius was creating the world's first moving production line in Detroit, where each worker did just one or two simple tasks as car frames moved past them.
This mass production system was absolutely game-changing. The famous Model T Ford rolled off the line at one car every ten seconds by 1927, with over 15 million produced in total. Car production skyrocketed from 4,000 in 1900 to 4.8 million by 1929.
The motor industry became America's biggest employer and had a ripple effect across the economy. It consumed 75% of America's glass production and created jobs in steel, rubber, leather, and oil industries. Road construction alone became the single largest employer as America built infrastructure for its car-obsessed society.
Cars weren't just for the wealthy anymore - America had 1 car per 5 people (compared to 1 per 43 in Britain). This sparked suburban house-building and countless small businesses from petrol stations to roadside diners.
Key Point: Ford's production line didn't just change car manufacturing - it revolutionised how everything could be made quickly and cheaply.
American Attitudes Towards Wealth
The 1920s flipped traditional American values on their head. Suddenly, prosperity wasn't just nice to have - Americans thought it was their right. The dream was simple: a lovely house, steady job, plenty of food, and a home packed with the latest gadgets.
Consuming became the new patriotic duty. Where previous generations valued thrift and saving money, 1920s Americans believed spending was better for everyone. The more you bought, the more American you were!
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The Reality of Inequality
Whilst billionaires like the Rockefeller family and industrialists like Henry Ford were getting richer, more than half of Americans remained stuck in or near poverty. This included most African Americans and recent immigrants who were largely shut out of the boom.
Farmers - a huge chunk of American society - actually got poorer during the prosperity decade. Their income crashed from 13 billion in 1928. The problem was simple: they were producing too much, which drove prices down.
Workers in traditional industries like coal, leather, and textiles also missed out. Coal faced competition from electricity, whilst leather and textile workers saw their jobs threatened by new synthetic materials like nylon and rayon. Even when their companies made bigger profits, wages didn't rise to match.
The most shocking statistic? Unemployment stayed at 5% throughout the boom - the same rate as 1920, even though production had doubled. New technology meant more goods could be made with fewer workers.
Key Point: This inequality was economically dangerous - if millions couldn't afford to buy goods, who would keep the consumer boom going?
The Republican government refused to help the unemployed or poor, believing the market would sort itself out. This hands-off approach would soon prove disastrous as the consumer-led boom relied on people having money to spend.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
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4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user