1. The Rise of the Middle Class The 1920s

2. Friend of the Working Man – From the US
Henry Ford
1. First business leader to pay his workers $5 a day (this was almost 2x what they were previously paid)

3. Friend of the Working Man
2. Ford Motor Company is the first to cut the work week to 5 days

4. 1920-$855
1926-$355
How did Henry Ford and Canadian companies make this happen?
The Assembly Line
Increasing the speed at which cars could be built lowered the cost of producing them

5. What factors led to so many automobiles being purchased?
1. Advertising
- Ads in newspapers, magazines and on billboards encouraged Americans to purchase a variety of new products

6. “Drive Now, Pay Later” Installment buying
- Sellers made it easy for people to buy their expensive products
- Canadians could buy goods immediately and then pay a little at a time each month, plus interest
“Drive Now, Pay Later”

7. Effects of the Automobile on N.A. Life
The Automobile industry supported other industries/retailers
(Steel, Rubber, Oil, Leather)

8. Effects of the Automobile on Canadian Life
2. New Social Behavior
-Canadians now could enjoy the freedom that traveling in a car could provide

9. Effects of the Automobile on Canadians Life
3. An increase in gas stations, hotels, motels, and restaurants

10. The Rise of the Middle Class
1. The Middle Class grew as the standard of living increased
Wages increased; Work hours decreased; people could afford to buy more

11. The Rise of the Middle Class
2. Because automobiles became so affordable, more Canadians could afford them.
This tightened the gap between the LowerClass and the Upper Class

12. The Rise of the Middle Class
3. With new factories came a need for people to work in management and sales.
These workers often earned higher wages than those factory workers who actually made the products…this is the new Middle Class.