Cars

To us in todays era cars are completely common. Just about everyone has one rich or poor. In the past it use to be only available to the upper class. Soon after affordable streetcars were made by the man Henry Ford. These Model T's were cheaper than other cars at the time because he found a way to make them on an assembly line, lowering the price of the already low price. Once these cars began to sell rapidly it left public transit with little usage. Soon the government was giving away loans and grants towards highways because they saw the rising popularity of passenger cars. Many farms became mechanized, witch ultimately lead to the failure of most farms. The Great Depression made it a hard time to build roads or highways since of the enormous cost and the state of the economy. After World War 2 America was able to rebuild and make things new such as roads, highways and water systems. This all lead to an overall stronger economy which helped the passenger car succeed even more. Now that more roads and highways were being created it allowed for more efficient travel by the people. Now one could not only get around the city, but could also leave the city and go out to a farm. All of this is all based of oil. Without oil none of this could have ever happened. Cars would not be a possibility, the modern convenience we have today would not exist. Oil has greatly shaped and effected our lives today.

Answer the following questions.

1.) How did the car/tractor shape Americas culture and Americans lifestyle?

Cars allowed the person to move faster and easier from point a to point b. After major roads and highways were set up people were traveling not only around the city but out of the city into the suburbs. Now not only people but items being shipped could arrive faster which helped boost our economy. With the invention of the tractor most common private farms were put out of business and bought by bigger industrial farms. The industrialization of farming was a good thing, but most of the small private farms could not afford it.

2.) How did energy contribute to the post WWII housing boom and suburban development?

Since cars were now on the rise we needed road to travel on. To help make these roads we needed workers. These people were hired and helped to make roads which in effect boosted our economy putting more jobs and more money out there. When these roads were completed people were able to drive out of the city into the suburbs, where people began to build houses. This is known as the rise in Suburbia.

Questions to answer.

1.) Henry Fords Model T was a cheap production car affordable to everyone. Did he make any other cars that were more high class?

2.) Cars break down over time and with so many new cars in the economy this was bound to happen. Were private mechanics around during the era of cars or were they only serviceable by the dealer? If mechanics were around this would lead to a plethora of jobs everywhere, if the people understand how it actually worked. With no insurance at this time the payment would need to be straight cash. Did this have any boost in the economy?

3.) Most public transportation was controlled by the government. Did the government do anything to stop progression on the new cars, or did they sit back and watch the public transportation slowly fail?