Changes

[[Image:HenryFord.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Henry Ford and his Model T ]]

[[Image:HenryFord.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Henry Ford and his Model T ]]

'''Henry Ford''' (1863 – 1947) was the founder of the [[Ford Motor Company]] and of modern mass production and assembly line techniques.  His introduction in 1908 of the [[Model T]] Ford automobile revolutionized transportation and, indeed, American industry.  As sole owner of the Ford Company he became one of the three or four richest and best-known people in the world.  He is credited with "[[Fordism]]," that is, the mass production of large numbers of inexpensive automobiles, coupled with high wages for his workers—notably the $5.00 a day pay scale adopted in 1914. Fordism promoted the consumer culture based on high income workers who could afford to buy cars at a time when only the rich in Europe owned an automobile.

'''Henry Ford''' (July 30 1863 –April 7 1947) was the founder of the [[Ford Motor Company]] and of modern mass production and assembly line techniques.  His introduction in 1908 of the [[Model T]] Ford automobile revolutionized transportation and, indeed, American industry.  As sole owner of the Ford Company he became one of the three or four richest and best-known people in the world.  He is credited with "[[Fordism]]," that is, the mass production of large numbers of inexpensive automobiles, coupled with high wages for his workers—notably the $5.00 a day pay scale adopted in 1914. Fordism promoted the consumer culture based on high income workers who could afford to buy cars at a time when only the rich in Europe owned an automobile.

Ford, though poorly educated, had a global vision, with consumerism as the key to peace. His intense commitment to lowering costs resulted in many technical and business innovations, including a franchise system that put a dealership in every city in North America, and in major cities on six continents. Ford left most of his vast wealth to the [[Ford Foundation]], but arranged for his family to permanently control the company after his death.

Ford, though poorly educated, had a global vision, with consumerism as the key to peace. His intense commitment to lowering costs resulted in many technical and business innovations, including a franchise system that put a dealership in every city in North America, and in major cities on six continents. Ford left most of his vast wealth to the [[Ford Foundation]], but arranged for his family to permanently control the company after his death.