During the 1920s, the US economy was on the rise and one of the main reasons was the automobile. The automobile had a profound impact on the United States. It brought superhighways, paved bridges, motels, vacations, suburbia, and the opportunity to trade this money making machine with other countries that had economic growth. Assembly lines became more efficient, thus allowing cars to be made more cheaply and allowing prices of cars to drop, enabling more Americans to purchase an automobile. Millions were sold. It had a ripple effect on US industries. With the increase in automobiles, came an increase in related products. Large quantities of glass, rubber and steel were needed to produce the multitude of automobiles in demand by the public, and petroleum was needed to fuel them. Industries, which made these products, flourished, as did trading with other countries that provided similar products the more cars that were produced, the more people drove thus leading to the need for more roads. Also, the construction industry experienced a boom and new techniques of construction were invented. Roads and highways were built to accommodate the increasing traffic. Suburbs grew rapidly. Gas stations, motels, restaurants and other establishments were built to provide for those traveling by automobile. Big business also greatly benefited from the automobile's ability to make some business techniques simpler. Corporations could now transport products further and faster for less money than before. This, in turn, allowed for wider market areas in commerce, selling more products to more people and generating a greater revenue. Globalization of products (assembling products from parts made worldwide) was also made easier.
Throughout American History the U.S. has sought to expand its boundaries. This need increased greatly during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century with the start of the industrial revolution.
