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Birth
Henry Ford was born in Wayne County, Michigan and was the oldest of six children in his family. -
First Automobile
Fords first automobile was made on June 4th 1896 while he was working at the Edison Illuminating company. He drove his first car around the city of Detriot. -
Creation of Ford Motor Company
On June 16, 1903 Ford created his business that would make him a billionaire. Ford would sell cars based out of Detroit but his main moneymaker would be the Ford Model T that was released in 1908. Fords creation of the assembly line made his factories efficient and he became the worlds leading car manufacturer in the 1910s and 20s. Other industries began to use the assembly line and the idea of mass production began in the US. -
How Ford treated his workers
On January 5th 1914 Henry Ford more than doubled his workers salary to $5 a day. Henry Ford also reduced the number of hours his workers worked by an hour and introduced a third shift. Other companies soon followed suit and the reduced hours and higher wages were standard in the industry. Henry Ford is often credited for the creation of the middle class due to this. -
Peak Net Worth
It was estimated in the mid 1920's that Henry Ford had a net worth of around $200 billion dollars in today's money -
Political Cartoon
Henry Ford had presidential ambitions but due to his schedule and position he never ran for president. This cartoon is making fun of those ambitions. -
How Ford spent his money
On January 15th 1936 Henry Ford and his son Edsel spent $25,000 to start the Ford Foundation. The Foundation gives grants to organizations that serve the public good. The foundation has facilitated social change and philanthropic causes around the world. -
Death
While in Dearborn Michigan, Ford suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died. He died at age 83 and left most of his money to the Ford Foundation. -
Captain of Industry or Robber Baron
Henry Ford has had several scandals but his developments to the industry of his company and the country as a whole, worker treatment, and philanthropy has led me to conclude that Ford is a Captain of Industry. -
Henry Ford Quote
"To do more for the world than the world does for you. That is success." - Henry Ford. Ford from humble beginnings contributed to the development and widespread impact of cars, leading to suburbia, highway travel and much more. Henry Ford added and did more for the world than the world handed Henry Ford. -
Connection to a modern figure
The modern figure I chose that is closest related to Henry Ford was Elon Musk. Elon Musk is a pioneer in the assembly and development of Rockets and space travel the same way Ford was with automobiles.