Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand the impact of cars on history and society, and identify key historical events related to the development of automobiles.

Materials and Prep

• Internet access for research
• Paper and pen for note-taking
• No prior knowledge required

Activities

• Research the history of automobiles and create a timeline of key events in the development of cars.
• Interview a family member or friend about their experiences with cars and how it has impacted their lives.
• Create a short presentation about a famous historical car and its impact on society.

Talking Points

• The invention of the automobile revolutionized transportation. As Henry Ford said, "History is more or less bunk. It's tradition. We don't want tradition. We want to live in the present, and the only history that is worth a tinker's damn is the history we make today."
• World War II had a significant impact on the automotive industry. As Winston Churchill remarked, "The automobile has not merely taken over the street, it has dissolved the living tissue of the city."
• The development of mass production techniques by Ford led to the affordability of cars for the average person. As Lee Iacocca stated, "The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family."