Henry Ford was an American industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company. He was born in 1863 and left home as a teenager to work in machine shops. In 1896, he completed his first car called the Quadricycle. In 1908, Ford introduced the Model T, making cars affordable for the masses. Ford helped grow the American middle class by paying workers $5 per day and established schools and museums. He dedicated his life to industrial pursuits and changed transportation and American culture and society through mass production of reliable, affordable cars.
1. 1 Biography
Henry Ford was born July 30, 1863. By 1879 he left his family to work in Detroit
machine shops. In 1896 he completed his first automobile, the Quadricycle. In 1908
Ford begins manufacturing the famous model T. Ford promoted the early use of aviation
technology and developed the tri-motor airplane. Before his death in 1947 he changed
America forever, not only by building cars, he established schools, developed ways to
use agricultural products for automobile components, helped the U.S. win WWII by
building war supplies, and gave jobs to thousands of people during the great depression.
2 achievements
Dedicated his life to industrial pursuits
In 1896 he completed his own self-propelled vehicle called the Quadricycle (2 forward
speeds and no reverse)
After 2 unsuccessful attempts to establish a company to manufacture automobiles, the
Ford motor company was incorporated in 1903 with him as vice-president and chief
engineer.
Dreamed of creating an affordable, reliable and efficient car and in 1908 Ford achieved
this dream and introduced the Model T.
Built Village Industries where people could work and farm during different seasons.
Opposed labor unions and in the 1930s Ford was the last automobile manufacturer to
unionize his work force.
Owned a controversial newspaper that published anti-Jewish articles that hurt his
reputation.
Established “The Henry Ford” museum to preserve historical items that illustrated the
American experience and American Ingenuity.
3 contributions to life in America
Started of a new era of transportation
Because of the model T, many more roads had to be built to keep up with the
growing # of automobiles
Established schools in several parts of America that provided modern teaching
methods and “learning by doing”
Mobilized his factories for the war effort and produced bombers, tanks and jeeps
for WWII
4 Impact on American culture
• Changed lifestyle because now people could travel without buying a train ticket
and it made transporting people and goods much easier.
• Visiting relatives and going on vacations were more common because of Henry
Ford’s Model T
5 impact on American society
Responsible for helping growth of middle class America by giving workers 5
dollars a day in a time when the average worker didn’t make that in a weeks time
Increased the demand for oil in America
6impact on American society
• Contributed to the dreams of mobility of people around the world
2. Pushed industrialization and social progress starting with his Model T and his
company continues to make state of the art products year after year
7 quotes by henry ford
“Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.”
“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.”
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working
together is success.”
“Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.”
8 quotes by henry ford
“To do more for the world than the world has done for you – that is success.”
“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”
“There is no man living who isn’t capable of doing more than he thinks he can
do.”
“Whatever you have, you must either use or lose.”
9 other facts
In 1919, he purchased a newspaper, the Dearborn Independent
In this newspaper he wrote about his ideas and how he believed in a Jewish world
conspiracy
He also suspected Jewish automobile dealers of conspiring to undermine Ford
Motor Company sales prices
Collected toasters, farm machinery, kerosene lamps, steam engines, and some
historical buildings to document America’s ingenuity.
Manufactured over 8,000 bombers for WWII
10 successes
Rose from a farm boy and tinkerer to the worlds first billionaire, all on the
strength of a single idea
Between 1903 and 1908, Ford and his engineers made 19 different vehicles
Named vehicles by letters, models A though S.
Most successful was model T or “Tin Lizzie” which Ford sold millions of
More than 15 million model T cars were sold world wide
Developed Tri-motor airplane
Built Quadricycle and first V-8 car
11 falures
Ford suffered two unsuccessful attempts to build his dream with the Detroit
Automobile Company and the Henry Ford Company
Today, Ford Motor Company consists of: Ford, Lincoln,
Mercury, Mazda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin,
and Volvo. The company is beginning its second century
of existence with a worldwide organization that retains
and expands Henry Ford's heritage by developing
3. products that serve the varying and ever-changing needs
of people all over the world.