Exploring the History of Automobiles
When was the automobile patented and by whom?
Choose one:
- A. 1860 by French inventor
- B. 1886 by German inventor Karl Benz
- C. 1908 by American inventor Henry Ford
Answer:
- B. 1886 by German inventor Karl Benz
Explanation:
The gasoline-fueled automobile was patented by Karl Benz in 1886, leading to significant societal changes. Henry Ford further revolutionized the industry with his Ford Quadracycle in 1896 and the launching of the Model-T in 1908.
The invention of the car has a profound history, with the gasoline-fueled automobile being patented by the German innovator Karl Benz in 1886. This invention greatly impacted society, changing transportation, city planning, and creating a demand for new resources such as rubber and petroleum. The automobile's popularity soared, thanks to its ability to allow cities and suburbs to grow beyond the confines of rail lines, which subsequently led to an increase in tax revenues used for road construction, the rise of new businesses catering to automobiles, and changes in urban noise and safety. Nonetheless, it was Henry Ford who revolutionized the automobile industry by introducing his first car, the Ford Quadracycle, in 1896 and later establishing the Ford Motor Company in 1903. The company's most famous creation, the Model-T, rolled out in 1908 and became the foundation for future automobile designs.