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Automobiles

Definition

An automobile is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transportation. In the context of US history, automobiles became widely available in the early 20th century and significantly influenced American society and economy.

Analogy

Think about automobiles like smartphones today. Just as smartphones revolutionized communication, automobiles revolutionized transportation - making travel faster, easier, and more convenient.

Related terms

Assembly Line: A manufacturing process in which parts are added to a product in a sequential manner to create a finished product much faster than with handcrafting-type methods. This was famously implemented by Henry Ford in producing his Model T cars.

Suburbanization: The growth of areas on the fringes of cities due to increased use of automobiles; it's like spreading out your favorite toppings from the center towards the edges on your pizza!

Interstate Highway System: A network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States; think about it as veins carrying life (in this case vehicles) across America's body.