Fordlandia: Henry Ford's Biggest Failure

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2 жыл бұрын

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Americans come to Brazil. Henry Ford had a vision of an American utopia on foreign soil. And no one was going to stop him from realizing that ambition. This is the story of how Ford took a plot of land in Brazil, built a town, and gave it his name -- and the complete disaster that followed. Fordlandia was more than just a fiasco for the Ford Motor Company or Henry Ford himself. Fordlandia stands as one of the largest, yet most ambitious, failures of the early American auto industry. What became of the Brazilian town Henry Ford saw as the future of American industry? This is RCR Stories: Fordlandia.
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Пікірлер: 459

@keybyss98 2 жыл бұрын

This man literally said “We’re going to Brazil” with no fear.

@InitiateDee 2 жыл бұрын

He's the only man that feels no fear when confronted with the phrase "You're going to Brazil"

@Arthurzeiro 2 жыл бұрын

@@InitiateDee At the end of the day Henry Ford himself never did.

@eclipse9304 2 жыл бұрын

More like "You're going to Brazil" really.

@thetechfromheaven 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks to that we have the Figo, the EcoSport and the Fiesta

@jasons7070 2 жыл бұрын

@@InitiateDee I went to Brazil alone in January 2020. No Fear. 💪

@madbbqer4343 2 жыл бұрын

What I learned: Resentment is a well dressed businessman doing a flying kick. This has been burned into my brain.

@sirsplintfastthepungent1373 2 жыл бұрын

How else are you supposed to quit your job?

@dubdaze68 2 жыл бұрын

I was immediately like "YES. A new RCR story". Thanks, Roman. The 20th century is littered with social and economic projects like this, where leaders tried to impose their will and weird lifestyles on their employees and followers. Walt Disney and the original EPCOT comes to mind.

@Endmass 2 жыл бұрын

"Seeing like a state" covers a lot, and is an interesting read.

@OnTwiggysTerms 2 жыл бұрын

Check out “The Dollup” podcast on Pullman

@lynp9996 2 жыл бұрын

Corporate bosses are authoritarian.

@XAMENOKOPMI 2 жыл бұрын

But why can't mr Regular read it? Roman's voice hurts my ears and although I really want to hear what he has to say, I simply can't. :(

@MaxxVelo 2 жыл бұрын

Defunctland's episode on Epcot was insane. The image and intent of EPCOT was cool but its execution would've been disastrous. As with most over ambitious Utopias.

@Sweet-mz7ol 2 жыл бұрын

I never learned about the dark side of Henry Ford until I was older. As a Detroit area native, his name carries weight around here and many people (especially if they or their relatives work for Ford) get very defensive and uneasy whenever the more nefarious details about his life are brought up. Another awesome story Roman! Keep up the great work!

@loona_mew 2 жыл бұрын

@@colin-nekritz no, actually he supported Hitler for his anti semetism He wanted the us to stay out of the war

@johnbacon4997 Жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure Henry Ford didn't like the Jews too mucj

@H34D5H07 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, the Bioshock reference is prefect, if there was anyone to create Rapture IRL that would be Henry Ford.

@jaffo7018 2 жыл бұрын

"Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?"

@TheRazePlayz 2 жыл бұрын

Elon Musk is currently trying to make a Mars based sequel.

@H34D5H07 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheRazePlayz just like Iron Sky :D

@lobsterboyx 2 жыл бұрын

I love that the writing style of these stories aren't dumbed down "WhAtS uP YoUtUbE?!" english, the references are all higher level, the sources are clearly noted and the pace is perfect. It makes me feel good to be able to listen to things like this in relation to the history of cars. I've known about Fordlandia, but never in such depth - this also comes from the same era as other corporations like Dole were also on exploratory-imperialism based "missions" that I'd love to know more about.

@lazermaster1243 2 жыл бұрын

Nice calm voice and well structured storytelling. If Roman made an audiobook I would buy it yesterday.

@MrDmitriRavenoff 2 жыл бұрын

There are far worse orators making a living reading books. Roman should look into actually getting narrator gigs.

@POINDXTRMUSIC 2 жыл бұрын

This filled my void until the next “Well there’s your problem” episode comes out. Thank you reg car guy :)

@Mikey-xz4vn 2 жыл бұрын

Im *still* waiting for the WTYP/RCR crossover episode - let alone the existing Pennsylvania connection

@spamviking 2 жыл бұрын

Pennsylvania, the podcasting state.

@gmosphere 2 жыл бұрын

@@Mikey-xz4vn an rcr/wtyp/ cartoonist Kayfabe crossover of Pennsylvania podcasting purportions

@logicerrormusic 2 жыл бұрын

Can't wait for the Saab story. That's a company that surely deserved better

@86twin 2 жыл бұрын

Saab story could be a pun for sob story.

@wormswiggleinn 2 жыл бұрын

Top gear did it

@thetechfromheaven 2 жыл бұрын

FoMoCo has nice programs nowadays, like the Ford Racing program

@markmiller3279 2 жыл бұрын

Saab had a few interesting ideas, but they weren't the kind of ideas your average car buyer cares about. Their eventual failure was unsurprising.

@86twin 2 жыл бұрын

@@markmiller3279 GM getting involved with them didn’t help

@Full_Throttle_no_Brakes 2 жыл бұрын

Suggestion: Put Brazil on the title and description and you will see that you'll get way more views. Plus add subtitles in Portuguese. Brazilians like myself will love to hear the story and get to know your channel. Cheers!

@gamesloko5817 2 жыл бұрын

Verdade mano

@OFDCTeo 2 жыл бұрын

sim

@ra_32 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I'd love to recommend RCR to my friends, but either they aren't into cars, either they don't speak english, and some of them might be frightened of Mr Regular's in-between "skits". Quite some barriers to cross that subtitles can help skip

@DeinonychusCowboy 2 жыл бұрын

Ford reminds me a lot of Disney in being weirdly obsessed with his own personal nostalgia when designing cities.

@markmiller3279 2 жыл бұрын

Good point. There was a generation of Midwesterners who felt that way, and I suspect many were like my grandparents and grandparents, raised on the tales of their immigrant ancestors who really did find the Midwest a miracle after the places in Poland, Germany, Ireland, and wherever else they had come from.

@yeoldeseawitch 2 жыл бұрын

not to mention that both henry and walt were both anti-semeiotic

@bigstyx 2 жыл бұрын

Ford and Disney were nothing alike. Disney drank and smoked plus Disney loved food and especially steak and potatoes guy. There was vary little in common with each other. It’s also a myth that Disney was anti Semitic all you need to do is research it on line to see for yourself.

@bigstyx 2 жыл бұрын

@@yeoldeseawitch this is a myth he wasn’t anti Semitic all you have to do is research on line to see for yourself. It was made up mostly by the family guy show that fabricated it. Their is zero evidence of this so please don’t spread lies.

@gadget73 2 жыл бұрын

I knew a little about Fordlandia but didn't realize just how truly bizzare it all was. Thanks Roman, always love these RCR stories.

@Skull35 2 жыл бұрын

Roman's RCR Stories fill me with the same wholesome "Hell yeah! Time to learn!" joy when I see a new Dark Souls lore video from VaatiVidya or Destiny lore video from MyNameIsByf- the longer the video, the better it is.

@valcatt1100 2 жыл бұрын

I keep pausing an looking into little facets of this then continue watching until the next detail makes me digress into internet rabbit hole of history.

@Skull35 2 жыл бұрын

@@valcatt1100 I'm glad I'm not the only one who does that with these!

@nitehawk86 2 жыл бұрын

And then the first picture is Henry Ford, and its more like a slightly less wholesome "Oh dear, time to learn." But history ain't always pretty, and if we don't learn this shit it gets forgotten.

@Arthurzeiro 2 жыл бұрын

Well, you just sold me a Greg Grandin book, I've always known about Fordlândia but only the big picture, as in "Ford Motor Company built a city in the amazon rain forest but cheap synthetic rubber ruined his aspirations". As a native with relatively close ties with people in the state of Pará I'm now much more interested to dive deep in the lore, I might even book a trip to the place come my next vacation. As a side note, 31:25 has to be the greatest stock image ever created.

@MrDmitriRavenoff 2 жыл бұрын

You guys are regular historians when it comes to these deep dives. I've heard far less eloquent episodes from major networks. Keep up the good work. You guys rock.

@nitehawk86 2 жыл бұрын

KZfaq algorithm and small-brain people whining its an hour long. But you can't tell something as nuanced as RCR stories in 10 minutes.

@markmiller3279 2 жыл бұрын

@@nitehawk86 I so agree. An hour felt just right.

@johnrobdoyle 2 жыл бұрын

Henry Ford's first venture abroad was to build a factory in Cork Ireland, his Parent's home town/County, clearly he was trying to impress the relatives in the old country. Coincidentally Ford's Mother came from a place called Fair Lane in Cork City.

@imbuzzkillington 2 жыл бұрын

The Amazon rubber boom sounds like it would end with court cases and child support

@AllonKirtchik 2 жыл бұрын

“They loved each other passionately, but the rubber (…) had come between them”

@theodorbutters141 2 жыл бұрын

@@AllonKirtchik "With every thrust the rubber stretched more and more. "Oh yes!" she said as he spanked her latex-covered bottom. He wanted to feel a different kind of rubber every once in a while, for there is only so much your imagination can stretch. As they say down in Cumtown : "You need to get strapped or you're gonna get clapped"

@joaopedrolonghi6612 2 жыл бұрын

Is it just me that imagine Mr. Regular Man sitting with his legs crossed like a kid, quietly listening to Roman narrative and drinking a lemonade or whatever kids drink while doing so?

@NewSparky97 2 жыл бұрын

A juicy juice with a triangular hole you punched with a can opener?

@sc0tt11 2 жыл бұрын

I get the impression Ford was a man who genuinely thought he knew what was right in all things, who wanted to be good and righteous and a leading light in the world, but was far too flawed as a human being to ever live up to his aspirations. Sad that a man could start out with so many professed good intentions and warp over time into some sort of despot.

@SHO220Z 2 жыл бұрын

Dude, these stories are so good they almost deserve to stand on their own.

@ImperatorZor 2 жыл бұрын

The History of Rubber is just so fucked up

@eyeamstrongest 2 жыл бұрын

the history of all these giant industries we take for granted are all kinds of fucked up

@rte3y838 2 жыл бұрын

@@eyeamstrongest even the ford pinto story

@nathanchildress5596 2 жыл бұрын

The Roman’s voice is made for telling tragedies; it sounds breathy and sincerely mournful. It suits this story and the bleak weather perfectly. Great work as always

@burkezillar 2 жыл бұрын

I think it's safe to say that Henry Food wasn't great fun at parties.

@elengstrom 2 жыл бұрын

This is brilliant in terms of a major overview of history of Henry Ford and “Fordlandia.” Time to do a comparative analysis of Henry Ford and Elon Musk.

@rcfp2006 2 жыл бұрын

Still waiting for the Vector episode

@gabrielmalta1962 2 жыл бұрын

Holy shit your pronunciation of words in Portuguese is excellent. We often see American content creators absolutely butchering the language

@themeapster5974 2 жыл бұрын

If I recall correctly, Roman knows some Spanish. Pronunciation is similar.

@estebanvasquez2307 2 жыл бұрын

Yep, thing is, Roman is Puerto Rican, and if I too recall correctly, while he hasn't spoken serious spanish for a time now, he hasn't forgotten the pronunciation nor how to make sentences.

@themeapster5974 2 жыл бұрын

@@estebanvasquez2307 hahahah I knew it! That happens a lot. My cousins don’t speak it but they know the language.

@OFDCTeo 2 жыл бұрын

@@themeapster5974 it isn't similar

@OFDCTeo 2 жыл бұрын

+- meu parceiro, o boa vista salvo

@Estagon 2 жыл бұрын

Yes Roman! This is the RCR story I’ve been waiting for!

@ajvark 2 жыл бұрын

Every time Roman says "end quote," I feel that. Each time hits harder than the last.

@luxurreview 2 жыл бұрын

RCR Stories is like nothing else on the internet, hopefully it grows to be huge.

@charlesbickford5167 2 жыл бұрын

Your best work yet, Roman; didactic but hugely insightful! Thank you.

@a2d 2 жыл бұрын

Roman, these videos are among my favorites on the channel. Keep up the great work!

@doubledpizza1413 2 жыл бұрын

Arguably the best documentary and summary of Fordlandia on KZfaq.

@jaydenminnis2752 2 жыл бұрын

Man Henry Ford sounds like a crotchety old man that got a hold of cities skylines

@forzavale5303 2 жыл бұрын

RCR Stories are the best automotive stories on KZfaq!

@boston1111111 2 жыл бұрын

"Dream of the 20s is still alive in fordland"!

@adamelliott2302 2 жыл бұрын

Another great auto story. Muscle Shoals did wind up playing host to a Ford Casting Plant decades later. I've got a number of relatives whom worked there until it closed in the early 80's. That very same Wilson Dam brought my dad's family into the area when Reynolds Aluminum came down from Virginia to build and aluminium plant in the post war years. My Grandfather, a mechanical engineer, drafted most of the production machinery for the plant. Thanks for adding additional context to my life!

@cb-bz1wy 2 жыл бұрын

This was a terrific listen! Thanks Roman

@markarnold5593 2 жыл бұрын

Mr Roman, I have enjoyed, without exception ALL of your RCR stories, factual histories, documentaries, call them what you will..... I am commenting to say, as of this moment, YOU are the standard to which I judge all other materials.... Many thanks once again.

@GeekyFast 2 жыл бұрын

A fascinating dive into a subject worthy of a close examination. Thanks, Roman. Great work as always!

@Schumanized 2 жыл бұрын

This is why i love this channel!!🙌🏾

@gharkun 2 жыл бұрын

good on you nick, this was really interesting. i'm quite pleased i'm a patreon supporter.

@tylermelton2467 2 жыл бұрын

It’s crazy, I was just talking to my buddy about this yesterday!

@rustytoyota 2 жыл бұрын

This was REALLY good. I learned a lot I would have never known. This will be great trivia at parties.

@theman.6396 2 жыл бұрын

Those were different times. I get that. But there's right and wrong I don't care what time it is. Right and wrong are simple things if you aren't an idiot and have the ability to think about it. Thanks for this, I probably never would have known otherwise. To the people liking others comments thank you for reading them I know most are long like mine. It's hard these days to get people to read others "paragraphs" and actually make a decision about them. A video like this deserves everyone's opinion to be heard and hated or liked no matter how long. Thank you RCR I appreciate your work.

@lucianoafp 2 жыл бұрын

i missed hearing rcr stories for so long thanks to the uni, and when i catch a breath, is involving brazil. delightful documentary, roman

@HVAC_Sean 2 жыл бұрын

This reminded me, funny enough, of The Outer Worlds, which was criticized with its vapid and shallow depiction of capitalistic ambition and imprinting of executive values on the populace that was brought in to make everything work. And I agree to a degree. Now that I've seen this, The Outer Worlds is pretty much just Sci-Fi Fordlandia, and yes, I'm taking some liberties and stretches. Not entirely analogous, but I thought it to be a funny resemblance nonetheless.

@panfluteskeleton 2 жыл бұрын

This is some great storytelling Roman. Enjoyed this alot 😀

@tghidsgn 2 жыл бұрын

Love these! Thanks, Roman :D

@nightadder6 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Roman! RCR Car Stories are one of my favorites.

@Anthony-uk3hv 2 жыл бұрын

Great work as always, Mr. Roman!

@georgedantz3617 Жыл бұрын

Love this documentary! Super well researched and packed with illuminating information, on a subject that shines not only a light on the beginnings of the American auto industry, but, shows how one person's separate or more to the point, insular vision can cause, many times, more bad than good.

@chrisgill7824 2 жыл бұрын

I also live about 3/4 of a mile from Wilson Dam and I can hear the water going through the spillways when it's running wide open. I drive over it on my daily commute (when it's open).

@herbstwerk 2 жыл бұрын

Oh... TIL. And since I never heard of this place, or forgot all about it, this also finally gives me context to one of my favorite albums of the 2010s, Jóhann Jóhannssons Fordlandia, which was thematically influenced by it. So thank you for this.

@gregsoucie 2 жыл бұрын

That was really well done. Learned a lot. Thanks for that.

@PershingDragoon 2 жыл бұрын

Great Car Stories episode. Very enlightening. Thanks :D

@GroundRat214 2 жыл бұрын

This was fantastic. Keep it up guys!

@waltermerrill6152 2 жыл бұрын

I love your essays. I love your research and your insight into the subjects and how you make me and everybody else as excited to learn about it as you were. Here is another hit. My personal favorite is the life and death of AMC. I have subscribe to your channel, and we'll watch anything that you put out. Your enthusiasm is infectious and your calm voice and demeanor is very easy on the ears. Thank you for another good one.

@badATchaos 2 жыл бұрын

great video! Keep the docs coming!

@lucitribal 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent work, Roman

@branemadder 2 жыл бұрын

Amongst all the many documentaries and opinions I've encountered regarding this place; thank you Roman, for a fair view of what Fordlandia was and now is.

@LuisEPGomes 2 жыл бұрын

I'm amazed that there's no other Brazilians around here I was expecting to see some comments saying "Brazil is in America, America is a continent, not a country" lol Great video, thank you for sharing our story

@dodoman288 2 жыл бұрын

Highlight of this channel. Love it

@DV-uz2sh 2 жыл бұрын

Solid quality content as always, never disappoints

@paulocunhamartins 2 жыл бұрын

This is very good content guys!

@northhankspin 2 жыл бұрын

Another great documentary Roman.

@A-G0005 2 жыл бұрын

Nice Video Guys, learned alot of things which i will probably forget in 3 Hours but still.

@terryorcutt8739 2 жыл бұрын

Roman, that was a tour de force. Bravo!

@sharagan 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this, Roman is the best storyteller...ever!

@SheriLynNut Жыл бұрын

Impressive script writing, great storytelling. First class documentary.

@RootedInReality 2 жыл бұрын

Not sure if this will get as many views as the reviews, but I love this shit!

@mauer594 2 жыл бұрын

Cool, new video for my morning. Thanks.

@nismofreak33 2 жыл бұрын

i listened to this whilst wiring up a fuse box in friends racecar. thanks Roman!

@KnitGnosis 2 жыл бұрын

Gonna be hard for Roman to do normal car reviews when he's trying to hold another Journalism award, one in both hands.

@DerikPiano 2 жыл бұрын

Wow awesome video! I never knew Ford had a town! :O great stuff

@marcscordato4385 2 жыл бұрын

Love your documentary!

@HighFuel90 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing video!

@michaelmoskovitz5680 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Roman.

@kentalanlee 2 жыл бұрын

Perhaps the greatest irony of the Fordlandia debacle, is that the whole of Joseph Conrad's literary output was current at the time of Ford's ill-fated decision to attempt it. Had Henry Ford simply read Heart of Darkness, which was published in 1899, perhaps he might have avoided his egotistic neocolonial impulses, and the subsequent deaths of so many people, pointlessly, via this Quixotic quest. An amazing tale. Just the sort of thing I would expect from RCR. You guys are masters at long form. I remain a huge fan.

@dalepeacock5323 2 жыл бұрын

The title caught my eye, it reminded me of Jóhann Jóhannsson's album Fordlandia in 2008. Thank you for covering this .

@yohann2768 2 жыл бұрын

31:40 The LS-swapped reindeer just made my day :-D

@jayyydizzzle 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Roman!

@roberthandzus4066 2 жыл бұрын

I'm this many years old when I learned that NATURAL rubber was a thing.

@TV---kn2rl 2 жыл бұрын

TIL latex is a plant product not an oil product too

@rileycannon6789 2 жыл бұрын

Oh God please look into the history of the congo and king Leopold

@danielseelye6005 2 жыл бұрын

@@rileycannon6789 Oh yeah, _there's_ a clusterfuck if ever there was one.

@markmiller3279 2 жыл бұрын

We had a rubber tree in our front yard when I was little and I always found the idea that rubbercame from that milky sap fascinating.

@WS-gw5ms 2 жыл бұрын

Dude well done video

@oldskoolbmw 2 жыл бұрын

thank you for making this as people nutswing on his legacy

@MrDmitriRavenoff 2 жыл бұрын

I think many people loved Ford, and just as man people hated his guts. He had some great ideas, and some absolutely repugnant beliefs along side them.

@markmiller3279 2 жыл бұрын

@@MrDmitriRavenoff People who knew him in his later years largely disliked him. Earlier his enthusiasm and ideals might have made him likeable, but by middle-age he was a difficult man to get along with.

@collyboy187 2 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed emmensely Nick, great tale well told

@jefferyepstein9210 2 жыл бұрын

Great way to start my day!!!!

@beezlebub3955 2 жыл бұрын

How’s the Bahamas treatin ya!!

@colinbrassington3192 2 жыл бұрын

Thoroughly enjoyed this. I’d say please note of this sort of video...but the amount of time these stories must take to produce must be crazy.

@pozzanivideos 2 жыл бұрын

Abraços do brasil =)

@dougjones4007 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic Roman! I read the book!

@OnixFilms 2 жыл бұрын

Hearing how Henry Ford was I am reminded of my first job and my boss. A good man, a terrible boss.

@johngregory5580 2 жыл бұрын

Say what you will about KZfaq but without it we would not get excellent pieces like this. Absolutely fascinating. Thank you.

@romtownraider 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome story👍💯

@shipmanjd 2 жыл бұрын

Well done Roman.

@quillmaurer6563 2 жыл бұрын

31:50 Neeeerd! Somehow I could totally see him swing dancing, he's the sort that I see a lot doing it - as am I.

@gorderumsi6424 2 жыл бұрын

I was gonna comment about that, I love that image lol

@russelladams6432 2 жыл бұрын

Yes. More like this please.

@vassa1972 2 жыл бұрын

Good stuff

@boostbogan 2 жыл бұрын

that was bloody brilliant

@Vanagons4Eva 2 жыл бұрын

Great job.

@conspiras.c8818 2 жыл бұрын

I love RCR stories I learn so much

@claymorexl 2 жыл бұрын

Bravo, good sir.