henry ford

Henry Ford was an American innovator who helped shape the automobile industry. He made cars more affordable by introducing the assembly line and interchangeable parts. Ford implemented the $5 workday to improve employee morale and sales. However, he faced controversy for his anti-Semitic views and received the Grand Cross of the German Eagle. Ford died in 1947. Hey everyone! Welcome to the Weekly Whiteboard, where we talk about historical figures and their impact on society. We're your hosts, Ree Huygens and Maddie Orris. In today's episode, we'll be talking about Henry Ford. Hey Ree, do you know who Henry Ford is? I know a little bit about Henry Ford. Well, Henry Ford was a great example of the American dream and an extraordinary innovator. He helped shape the automobile industry by making cars more affordable. Born in Dearborn, Michigan on July 30, 1863, Henry Ford was the oldest of six siblings. At a young age, he expressed interest in mechanics by receiving a watch from his father, which he continually took apart and put back together. Then, at 15, in the year 1878, he made his first steam engine and made an improved version powered the first Ford automobile, the quadricycle. For a brief time, he returned home and ran a lumber mill off his father's farm. However, mechanics were his true passion. Fifteen years later, he began his first motor company, shortly after producing the Model T in 1908. To increase efficiency and lower costs, he introduced the assembly line and interchangeable parts to car manufacturing. Although Ford was very anti-union, he was responsible for implementing the $5 workday in 1914 in an attempt to improve employees' morale. An increase in the wage allowed them to buy cars, keeping his sales and production up. Ford, however, was not without controversy when he was accused of anti-Semitism, which stemmed from comments made in a newspaper he owned called The International Jew in the early 1920s. He also won the Grand Cross of the German Eagle in 1938. Henry Ford unfortunately died on April 17, 1947, due to a stroke. Thank you for listening to the weekly Whiteboard podcast about Henry Ford, and next week, tune back in for another podcast. If you'd like a shout-out on next week's podcast, please email Mr. Barnhart, and we will make sure to shout you out next week.