The decade of the 1920s was a time of great change and this period was called the Roaring '20s. Everything was improved and modernized. Sports, entertainment, science, politics and communication have become part of everyday life. More people than ever lived in cities. New inventions like the Model T Ford have made everyday life much easier. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Before the Model T was invented by Henry Ford, automobiles were a luxury item. At the beginning of 1908, there were fewer than 200,000 automobiles on the road. The Model T was built for ordinary people and was moderately priced. It originally cost $900, which is equivalent to $20,000 today. Then, after selling 100,000, the price dropped to $365. It had a 22-horsepower four-cylinder engine and was made of a new type of heat-treated steel that made it much lighter. It weighed only about 1,200 pounds and was stronger than previous cars. It could go up to 40 miles per hour and run on gasoline. When oil prices collapsed in the 20th century, gasoline became cheaper making the Model T even cheaper to drive. The Model T Ford made travel much easier. With the help of this new form of inexpensive transportation, people began to move to large cities and abandon country farms. This created “urban sprawl” and cities were transformed into cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Before this invention, only the wealthy could travel, and only using slower methods of transportation such as the horse-drawn carriage. By the time the Model T Ford was released, the 18th Amendment was written and bootleggers began using it to illegally transport liquor. The engine upgrade allowed them to reach speeds of up to 70 mph and some made a hobby of escaping the cops. Seeing the new moonshine market, mobsters and gangs also stepped in and started distributing illegal alcohol as well. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In the 1920s, many people wanted new forms of transportation, and Henry Ford gave them the rugged and reliable Model T Ford. Overall, the Model T Ford fueled America's need for change. New jobs, new cities and a new lifestyle have been created. Bottom line, without the Ford Model T, the cars we have today might not exist.