The Assembly Line and Fordism
Joshua Freeman, history professor at Queens College, explained Henry Ford's development of the assembly line. He also discussed the concept of "Fordism" and Ford's reliance on vertical integration as a business model. Mr. Freeman spoke about the benefits and drawbacks of both Fordism and vertical integration.
Description
Joshua Freeman, history professor at Queens College, explained Henry Ford's development of the assembly line. He also discussed the concept of "Fordism" and Ford's reliance on vertical integration as a business model. Mr. Freeman spoke about the benefits and drawbacks of both Fordism and vertical integration.
Bell Ringer Assignment
- Explain the idea of the assembly line. Why was it revolutionary?
- How did the assembly line impact the consumer and society?
- Explain the benefits and drawbacks of "Fordism."
- What is vertical integration? How was this beneficial for Ford? What are risks associated with this?
Additional Resource
- Bell Ringer: Henry Ford and the Model T
Bob Casey talked about Henry Ford, the Model T and his impact on transportation.
Participants
Vocabulary
- Assembly Line
- Consumer
- Fordism
- Henry Ford
- Raw Materials
- Standardization
- Vertical Integration