Legacy
When Henry Ford died on April 7, 1947, he behind many lasting beliefs and legacies that were not previously discussed. Like many businessmen, Ford did become politically involved both nationally and internationally. Henry Ford always had a stand on international affairs. During both World War 1 and World War 2, he and his company tried to support the neutrality movement. Eventually not only did the United States government give in and join both world wars, but so did Henry Ford and supply the Americans with ammunition. During World War 1 especially, Ford wanted peace for the first few year, when America was still neutral. Trying to take matters into his own hands, Ford sailed on the ship Oscar II, which was also known as the peace ship. Though many people were offered to join, very few actually went on the peace ship. President Wilson claimed that he did not support this action. After his failed peace ship movement, Ford was pulled into the domestic political problems. Ford, who essentially no campaigning, had won primaries in both Michigan and Nebraska, making him a potential Republican candidate to run against President Wilson, who was running for reelection. After that failed, Ford actually campaigned to run for U.S. Senator, and lost again, but by a narrow margin. Ford did not succeed in the game of politics (Young 72 - 83).
Ford's next legacy was not such a popular one. It started when he sued the Chicago Tribune for printing outlandish claims against him. They claimed that he had a high level of ignorance. In this lawsuit, Ford eventually won, but at a price. Ford was publicly humiliated by the defense lawyers for portraying him as somewhat naive, by asking simple questions that Ford could not answer ("Henry Ford" The American Experience). This humiliation is often associated with Ford's remarks against Jewish populations. He would often blame the Jewish populations for things like: vulgarity, the lack of temperance, having few morals, and causing the rents to be high. These remarks were spread through Ford's novel called The International Jew. This book of racist comments towards Jewish people has been said to have inspired some Nazism in Germany, before World War 2. Coincidentally, Ford is actually mentioned in Adolf Hitler's book Mein Kampf, which is a book about Hitler's struggles and his plans. Ford did not get along with Jewish people (Tedlow 137).
Henry Ford's most famous legacy is arguably the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Henry Ford is also known for the Ford Foundation, who helped with the establishment of the Henry Ford Museum. The Ford Foundation was a trust put together by Henry Ford, towards the end of his life to avoid estate taxes. This foundation later became a very wealthy and active philanthropic organization that has donated a total over $8 billion to social causes. The Ford Foundation has founded the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village as well as the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit ("Henry Ford" Business 1). The Ford Foundation's symbol is in the bottom right hand corner. The other legacy is Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum. Though it sounds like two different things, they are combined into one organization. In the top left, there is a picture of the foundation for Greenfield Village. This village was Henry Ford's sanctuary from the burdens of life. It combines a restoration of his house when he was a kid with his Quadracycle garage. It showed culture before the automotive changes ("Henry Ford" The American Experience). The first person to lay the foundation down for Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum was Ford's good friend and former employer, Thomas Edison. Edison laid the foundation down in 1928. This complex can be described as the first theme park in America, because Disney was inspired and after this complex. The complex opened on October 21, 1929, 15 years after the lightbulb was first introduced. Many people attended the opening including: Orville Wright, Madame Curie, Albert Einstein, and even President Hoover. It showed Ford's belief in practicality and creativity (Lacey 246).
Pictures:
Header: "What Conservatives Think of Henry Ford"
Top Left: "Exploring the Origins of Greenfield Village"
Bottom Left: "Aerial Image View of Henry Ford Museum"
Bottom Right: "Ford Foundation"
Ford's next legacy was not such a popular one. It started when he sued the Chicago Tribune for printing outlandish claims against him. They claimed that he had a high level of ignorance. In this lawsuit, Ford eventually won, but at a price. Ford was publicly humiliated by the defense lawyers for portraying him as somewhat naive, by asking simple questions that Ford could not answer ("Henry Ford" The American Experience). This humiliation is often associated with Ford's remarks against Jewish populations. He would often blame the Jewish populations for things like: vulgarity, the lack of temperance, having few morals, and causing the rents to be high. These remarks were spread through Ford's novel called The International Jew. This book of racist comments towards Jewish people has been said to have inspired some Nazism in Germany, before World War 2. Coincidentally, Ford is actually mentioned in Adolf Hitler's book Mein Kampf, which is a book about Hitler's struggles and his plans. Ford did not get along with Jewish people (Tedlow 137).
Henry Ford's most famous legacy is arguably the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Henry Ford is also known for the Ford Foundation, who helped with the establishment of the Henry Ford Museum. The Ford Foundation was a trust put together by Henry Ford, towards the end of his life to avoid estate taxes. This foundation later became a very wealthy and active philanthropic organization that has donated a total over $8 billion to social causes. The Ford Foundation has founded the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village as well as the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit ("Henry Ford" Business 1). The Ford Foundation's symbol is in the bottom right hand corner. The other legacy is Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum. Though it sounds like two different things, they are combined into one organization. In the top left, there is a picture of the foundation for Greenfield Village. This village was Henry Ford's sanctuary from the burdens of life. It combines a restoration of his house when he was a kid with his Quadracycle garage. It showed culture before the automotive changes ("Henry Ford" The American Experience). The first person to lay the foundation down for Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum was Ford's good friend and former employer, Thomas Edison. Edison laid the foundation down in 1928. This complex can be described as the first theme park in America, because Disney was inspired and after this complex. The complex opened on October 21, 1929, 15 years after the lightbulb was first introduced. Many people attended the opening including: Orville Wright, Madame Curie, Albert Einstein, and even President Hoover. It showed Ford's belief in practicality and creativity (Lacey 246).
Pictures:
Header: "What Conservatives Think of Henry Ford"
Top Left: "Exploring the Origins of Greenfield Village"
Bottom Left: "Aerial Image View of Henry Ford Museum"
Bottom Right: "Ford Foundation"