Throughout history, ideas have germinated and transformed into inventions without which we could never imagine our lives. These ideas spark changes in culture, economic status, and ultimately how people live their lifestyles. In primitive times, this idea consisted of the invention of hunting tools using stones, wood and bones. As time progressed and brought us to medieval times, domesticating a horse for transportation and for use in battle was ideal. Today, when we look at more modern times, it is the idea that sparked a global change among nations: the automobile. While the automobile led to growth in economic status, employment rates, and improved functionality in people's daily lives, the invention of the automobile also had a debilitating impact on the environment, non-renewable resources and human health. When did the ravages of the automobile begin? Although most people consider Henry Ford to be the father of the automobile, most historians agree that the birth of the modern car took place in the 19th century with some earlier trial and error leading to what we consider to be automobiles today. Starting in the late 1700s, European engineers began experimenting with motor vehicles. Steam combustion and electric motors had all been tried by the mid-1800s but were not yet mastered. Surprisingly, the electric car was the most popular, but a battery powerful enough to travel more than a few miles per hour had not yet been invented. Imagine how different the world would be today if engineers had spent more time innovating electric car batteries rather than creating an entirely new engine whose emissions polluted the atmosphere. Automotive pioneers like Ransom E. Olds and Henry Ford are middle of paper...... sports, petroleum products and how they impact and shape the world we live in. The automobile reformed America's view of what a good meal was by introducing a fast food chain, leading to a rapid increase in obesity rates. Your wealth was only as good as the automobile you drove, and success was defined by whether your car was a Ford or a Mercedes. Although the invention of the automobile has sparked great conflict throughout American history, it is too easy to place all the blame on the automobile without pointing the finger at society. The automobile has been embraced by countless generations and will continue to be so as we move into the future. Choices have consequences. As we move into the future, future generations will continue to face consequences that began before we even thought about them..