Automobiles are vehicles that are powered by an internal combustion engine that uses a volatile fuel to generate power. They are typically four-wheeled and can carry a number of people. They were largely developed in the late 1700s and 1800s.
Until the invention of the automobile, people relied on horse power or human power to move. The automobile was revolutionary because it allowed humans to travel long distances in relative comfort and speed. The automobile also opened up many new work possibilities and locations for families to live.
While cars are useful, they do have some drawbacks. They can cause traffic jams and they emit carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. In addition, they are expensive to maintain and require a lot of parking space in cities.
The automobile is one of the most significant inventions of the 20th century. The inventor, Henry Ford, pioneered modern mass production with his moving assembly line. In 1908 he introduced the Model T, a car that cost less than most Americans earned in a day at their jobs. Ford’s innovation made the automobile affordable for middle class America and transformed our society. The car helped drive a new consumer economy where many Americans bought goods they could not produce themselves. It also accelerated the development of paved roads and suburbs. It even encouraged family vacations, and facilitated dating and marriage. This change was a major force in the expansion of women’s roles in American society.