The Flivver King: Henry Ford
The Flivver King:
A Story of Ford America
In the early 1900’s Henry Ford developed the idea of “a wagon that will run without a horse”.1 This idea and Ford’s success changed America and its people forever. The development of the automobile played a tremendous role in the economy, labor unions and society. Generally, when most people think of Henry Ford they reflect upon his wealth and contributions to the transportation industry as an infinitely positive phenomenon. It is thought that aside from just allowing consumers to purchase and use his inventions, he provided thousands of people with jobs and the promise of prosperity. The tale of Henry Ford’s legendary business and remarkably effective assembly line is unparalleled in American History. But when it comes to Henry Ford it is impossible to think in terms of black of white. He may have made an awesome amount of money distributing a product loved by almost everyone, but at what cost? Upton Sinclair addresses this question in The Flivver King. The Flivver King tells the story of Henry Ford and his massive business from the perspective of his workers. Contrary to popular belief, the relationship between Mr. Ford and his workers became much more frustrating and upsetting as his business progressed. World War 1 and the Great Depression damagingly effect Ford and his workers. Upton Sinclair’s story of the Shutt family depicts the changes that occurred between Henry Ford and his workers and how his growing wealth and the nations declining economy had a negative impact on his approach as a boss and business man. Abner Shutt is a loyal character and a hard worker for Henry Ford. But as the reader follows experiences he and his family encounters while working with the Ford Motor Company it is easy to realize that Henry Ford’s story of success had more tribulations than most people would have expected.
The beginning of the story is based around Abner Shutt’s childhood. Abner lives in the same town as Henry
A Story of Ford America
In the early 1900’s Henry Ford developed the idea of “a wagon that will run without a horse”.1 This idea and Ford’s success changed America and its people forever. The development of the automobile played a tremendous role in the economy, labor unions and society. Generally, when most people think of Henry Ford they reflect upon his wealth and contributions to the transportation industry as an infinitely positive phenomenon. It is thought that aside from just allowing consumers to purchase and use his inventions, he provided thousands of people with jobs and the promise of prosperity. The tale of Henry Ford’s legendary business and remarkably effective assembly line is unparalleled in American History. But when it comes to Henry Ford it is impossible to think in terms of black of white. He may have made an awesome amount of money distributing a product loved by almost everyone, but at what cost? Upton Sinclair addresses this question in The Flivver King. The Flivver King tells the story of Henry Ford and his massive business from the perspective of his workers. Contrary to popular belief, the relationship between Mr. Ford and his workers became much more frustrating and upsetting as his business progressed. World War 1 and the Great Depression damagingly effect Ford and his workers. Upton Sinclair’s story of the Shutt family depicts the changes that occurred between Henry Ford and his workers and how his growing wealth and the nations declining economy had a negative impact on his approach as a boss and business man. Abner Shutt is a loyal character and a hard worker for Henry Ford. But as the reader follows experiences he and his family encounters while working with the Ford Motor Company it is easy to realize that Henry Ford’s story of success had more tribulations than most people would have expected.
The beginning of the story is based around Abner Shutt’s childhood. Abner lives in the same town as Henry