Guide Note:

Henry Ford was the founder of Ford Motor Company. He revolutionized the automobile industry with his invention of the assembly line.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: July 30, 1863 in Greenfield Township, Michigan
2. Died: April 7, 1947, in Dearborn, Michigan
3. In 1896, Ford constructed the Quadricycle
4. Was awarded 161 U.S. patents
5. Designed Model T Ford and Model A Ford
6. Unsuccessful candidate for senate in 1918
7. 1942: Henry Ford patented a plastic bodied car

On October 1, 1908 Henry Ford introduced the Model T car to America. His invention was a hit with the mainstream population, and it is hailed as the year that the car became affordable for middle class Americans in mass quantities.

The groundbreaking innovation behind the Model T was Ford's use of the assembly line, which involved workers who would specialize in bringing together a car from its component parts. This was in stark contrast to the hand crafting method of former days.

In addition to the technical innovation behind the Model T, Ford's model for hiring workers was also different from the model of his day. He was a strong believer in welfare capitalism and paid workers higher than average wages, which eliminated the constant turnover that most companies experienced.