Video: The Age of the Automobile

National Association of Scholars

The first automobiles were built in the 1800s, but it wasn't until the early 1900s, with the creation of Henry Ford's Model T, that automobiles began to be commonly used and owned. Before long, the automobile had revolutionized American life.

How did Henry Ford popularize the automobile in America? How were automobiles viewed when they were first introduced and how did this perception change over time? How did the interstate highway system develop, and was it built to accommodate cars of the day, or were cars modified to make overland travel more feasible?

This webinar features John Heitmann, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Dayton and former President and Board Member of the Society of Automotive Historians; Dan Albert, author of Are We There Yet? The American Automobile Past, Present, and Driverless; and Tom Lewis, Professor of English at Skidmore College.

The discussion is moderated by David Randall, Director of Research at the National Association of Scholars.

You can find a list of the speakers' books available for purchase here.


Image: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain

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