Impact of the Automobile
by Rit NosotroChange Over Time essay
Explain the impact that the automobile has had on world sociology and economy.
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Summary:
[Ed., This essay did not meet the standards of a thesis based essay which is supported by solid research.]
The automobile’s effect on America’s economy was huge, yet that was nothing compared to its effect on the way Americans lived. Because of the automobile, cities grew and suburbs appeared for the first time. Until the invention of the automobile, factory workers were forced to live close to the factory or a railroad that led to the factory so that they could get to work on time. With the automobile, they no longer needed to live so close. They could live miles away from the stench and filth of the factories and the city, yet still work at a factory. Communities began to show up that had few employment opportunities, instead of working in their home town, the residents would work a good distance away and make the commute every day. These commuter communities were called suburbs, since they were a part of urban communities. Yet people still depended upon the cities for all of their shopping, so the suburbs were never too far away from the hustle and bustle of cities.
The automobile completely replaced any other means of transportation in both efficiency and usefulness. Up until the automobile, horses were the major means of transportation in the cities. Horses require a large amount of care, and were therefore kept in public facilities that were usually far from residences. They also created a sanitary problem with the manure they left on the ground. Many kinds of bacteria and intestinal worms can live in manure for long periods of time, thus having the possibility of spreading disease. Also it was very unsightly having horse poop littering the streets. The automobile had none of those disadvantages. It required little daily care, left no mess in the street, and could be kept at one's own house.
Your average Joe wasn’t the only person facilitating this new mode of transportation. Firemen started using the automobile to respond to fires. They were able to respond to fires so much quicker, possibly keeping a fire from spreading and even saving lives. The automobile was modified into an ambulance, allowing paramedics to respond to emergencies quicker. Police were some of the first to utilize the convenience of the automobile. They were able to rush to the scene of a crime, often times stopping the criminals in the act.
Before the invention of the car, Petroleum was practically useless. Now, millions and millions of barrels of oil are bought and sold each year. Also, before the discovery of oil most of the Middle Eastern countries were very poor, had no economy, and the people were living in extreme poverty. After the invention of the car, since there was such a need for oil, people started to look for other places to get oil and they discovered the abundance thereof in the Middle Eastern countries. This discovery allowed the countries of the Middle East to rise out of poverty. Also, consider all of the jobs created in order to produce these cars. All of the car factories need workers to assemble the cars, the refineries are employing thousands, and millions of miles of roadway have been laid to make way for the automobile.
The automobile was the most important influence in America during the first half of the twentieth century. No other invention or innovation has touched as many aspects of our society as the automobile. It allowed Americans for the first time to actually utilize the freedom granted them in the constitution. They could travel wherever they pleased whenever they pleased. The automobile allowed people to set their own schedule, and have the freedom to leave for work when they wanted at the risk of being late, not when the train left. America’s entire lifestyle changed with the coming of the automobile. Cities were no longer the only place to find urban comforts. People were able to live in nice, comfortable communities, instead of right next to loud, dirty factories. The automobile has altered our economy, completely changed the way we go about our everyday life, and has created methods that have redefined America’s industry. Without the automobile, America, and the world, would not be anything like it is currently.
Quick Quiz
1. Until the invention of the automobile, what was the major mode of transportation
in the U.S.?
A. Donkey
B. Train
C. Submarine
D. Horse
2. Before the invention of the car which item was practically useless?
A. Horse-shoes
B. Petroleum
C. Coal
D. Steel
3. Because of the automobile, cities grew and _________ appeared for the first
time.
A. Suburbs
B. Ghettos
C. Chop Shops
D. Street Lights
4. All of the following use the newly invented automobile except:
A. Paramedics
B. Pony Express
C. Firemen
D. Policemen
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