Social by-products of cars were visible as well. These include autobuses making possible the consolidaiton of schools and to some churches as well. While America became a nation of commuters, the suburbs were spreading out away from the "urban core".
1917 Ford Model T Touring Car
Henry Ford
Motor accidents began to take its toll on human life by 1951 when the one millionth American was killed in an accident. Motor vehicles also provided a room on wheels for the “sprung” male teens and females who could get “rrough” in the back seat. Also, automobiles caused pollution, but were considered better for the environment than horses. Besides this, the automobile provided more excitement and better convenience than any other invention.
1920's car accident
Now, Jacobs blog
Good job rrough rider. Cars have become an integral part of American society and without them and without highways our country would be a much different place. People would still have to rride on horses.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, I must have missed the part about Americans owning more cars than bathtubs in my notes, that's crazy. It's also funny to think that cars were considered "good" for the environment back then, where as now everybody thinks they're a huge cause of the earth's environmental crisis.
ReplyDeleteI agree with A-Dizzle... that's crazy about the bathtubs. It's kind of sad how dangerous the cars ended up being. You would think they would have realized that those horses were safer. Yet, I guess it would be much cooler to ride in a car. Anyway, good job!
ReplyDeleteRather funny that today in society the automobile industry is hurting, but back in history automobiles were becoming the new "it" thing! I can't believe there were more cars than bathtubs... wonder if that's still true today? good job!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMike.
ReplyDeleteCool post haha. I can not believe people actually thought that cars were good for the enviroment, thats carzy. Also I never knew that just because the car was invented that all others uses of transportation would go down. But good job
Cars ARE a major part of the earth's environmental crisis there is no doubting that. An average small car, with an engine size of 1.6 litres produces about 200 grams (0.2 kilograms) of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometre. Think about that. That is a lot of pollution spewing into the air and think about the numbers of car plus the miles they travel. However, don't fear new chemical mechanism are being produced that can make the reverse reaction possible and turn CO and CO2 back to O2! The interesting thing is what would our world look like today with no cars? If you ask me, perhaps a much healthier place. The suburbs would never have been built and we would walk much more a most likely have less weight problems (we, in Alabama, live in the bloody Diabetes Belt...) Cars may have made us a modern society but at the same time a killing us slowly untill some major reform can be done.
ReplyDeleteYeah, cars made life really easier and more convenient... imagine a life without cars.. but to that time there was also danger !... good job;)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Evan on this one: cars are slowly killing us. You can look anywahere else in the world, and even in America's own cities, and see how being forced to walk everywhere gives you a healtier population. I really wish I could walk here but everything is so far apart and sidewalks are rare. What's cool, though, is that people still go on joyrides. On the other hand, these joyrides just add to the overall pollution more. Such a complex problem. Aiaiai.
ReplyDeleteGood post Michael.
Maybe that's not a misspelling but an appropriate new term with which to refer to the craziness of the new auto age - "carzy." I think it works.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, thanks for the good coverage of this topic -- I would like you to add a word about what your text referred to as another "social by-product" of the car, one that was visible. It's going to be a major development that we want to take note of as it continues to have a huge impact on us today.
Evan, that's awesome. And I don't think the suburbs or country life is necessarily a bad thing, we just have to find ways to utilize it more efficienlty. The main problem with cars is not just that they pollute the earth like crazy and suck up gas and money, but that the majority a cars are only carrying the driver! That's ridiculous! If everybody just car pooled to wherever they have to be maybe even just 3 times a week, there would be less cars on the road and less CO2 emissions, which would be a great first step that for some reason, America doesn't want to take.
ReplyDeleteWell, first off, Evan you scare me with your trivia. Now that that's out of the way, Michael, I like how you included that there were more cars than bathtubs, though it does create a weird image of America. Great pictures, and great information, especially the fun fact of when the one millionth American driver died. Wonder if people still think horses pollute more than cars though? Food for thought!
ReplyDeleteLets look at this interesting fact provided so couteously by the author of our book.
ReplyDelete"More cars than bathtubs"
More cars than bathtubs?? Really? I don't doubt this fact in the least and I am willing to wager my pants that that statement is still true today (honestly, how many of us take a bath?). Cars are very useful and I think they can certainly be excellent tools for our world, but the problem I refer to is that cars are using a fuel source that is harmful!! I mean the GOP each year attacks ethanol since it "wastes valuable food supply" and simply hates the idea of corn for energy. I mean, who eats corn three meals a day?? Anyways, i think its time for less hate and more clean energy sources!
I can't wait for gas to go to $6 a gallon. HAH! Then our society will HAVE to reform for a cleaner, better world
Exactly, Evan! Renewable energy at that! How much money each year is spent on gas and oil and such, I don't even want to know. It will just make me mad. Maybe electric cars, hydrogen powered, soalr powered, wind powered! I don't know. It's time to stop drilling for oil, and take all that money we give to it, slowly wean our economy off of oil and give it to renewable ebergy reseach and funds. Wind power is an awesome renewable energy source, that never stops! Even when there is no wind blowing, the previously stored up energy could supply the energy to keep the wind mill going! How could people not get behind this? New jobs, clean and renewable energy, no more oil, and tona and tons of money saved! It's about time for an energy revolution!
ReplyDelete