When in America did the car become popular?

The car's rise to popularity in America was a gradual process, but the period from the late 1910s through the 1920s is generally considered the era when it truly took off and became a widespread phenomenon.

While cars existed earlier, several factors converged in this period:

* Mass production: Henry Ford's assembly line revolutionized car manufacturing, making them significantly cheaper and more accessible. The Model T, affordable to the average worker, is key to this.

* Improved infrastructure: The expansion of roads and highways made driving easier and more practical.

* Economic prosperity: The post-World War I boom provided more disposable income for Americans to spend on automobiles.

* Marketing and cultural shifts: Cars were actively marketed as symbols of freedom, independence, and progress, resonating deeply with the American psyche.

So, while cars existed before, it wasn't until this period that they transitioned from a luxury item to a common means of transportation for a significant portion of the population.