The very first cars were invented in the early 1900’s. These cars were the basic start of the automobile industry. Shortly after these cars were invented two major companies opened up, General Motors and Ford Motor Company. In the twenties these became more popular and many smaller companies started. The automotive industry was really looking up, that is until the Great Depression hit. When the Great Depression hit the automotive industry went into a major economical decline just like every other business. The industry didn’t pick up again until the 1950’s. In the 1950’s there where big developments with the cars. These new cars were introduced in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. The 1960's started the obsession over owning cars. One of the main reasons why cars became so popular during the 1960’s is because people started moving out of the city and started living in the suburbs. 70 percent of the population now lived in the suburbs and because of this cars became extremely popular and necessary. There was no other way to get into the city unless one had a car and because of this cars were necessary to own in the suburbs. Also there were extremely low oil prices at this time and that is just another reason why cars became more popular in the 1960’s. These cars were at their lowest price yet and this caused many people to purchase these cars. Lastly the road systems were changing in the 1960's. Freeways were being built and this made it easier for car to get around. The roads were becoming more accommodating for cars and this made easier for people make the switch over to the automobile. Cars became a social norm in the 1960's and they were no longer seen as a luxury item and were now viewed as a necessary item.
The automotive technological advances in the 1960’s really helped us get to where we are today. With out these automotive advances America would be in a very different place today. One way America would be different today if these changes didn’t happen is the fact that most of the families moved to the suburbs. Once they moved to the suburbs, they really started depending on cars to get into the city. The city was where the jobs were and therefore to get there they needed a car to get there. This is very much like today. Most of the jobs are centrally located in a big city while most people live on the outskirts of the city. If people didn’t move to the suburbs in the 1960’s it would have changed how our society is today. If they would not have moved then we may not have depended on cars as much as we do today. One other thing that happen in the 1960's that is very much like today is the three american automakers. These three american automakers wiped out of of its competition. If one wanted a car in the 1960's they went to Ford, General Motors, or Chrysler. How this is like today is because there are definitely major car companies that americans buy from. There are no smaller cooperations around and no one really would want to buy from them ether. Americans know that these major cooperations are safe and reliable just like how the americans of the 1960's thought the big three where.
The Three American Automakers "The Big Three"
Ford
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General Motors
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Chrysler
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