The discovery of electricity and the invention of the lightbulb in the mid-19th century revolutionized the American society, politics, and culture. During the mid 19th century life was different: candles were the only source of light, transport was steam-powered, food was stored in ice boxes. However, within the next fifty years, electricity would change that. In 1878, Thomas Edison invented the incandescent lightbulb; in 1888, Frank Sprague’s electric trolley system became the first large-scale electric rail system in the world; in 1911, General Electric unveiled the first electric refrigerator. However, the rise of electricity was fraught with conflict over the type of electrical current. Starting in the 1870’s the fight over electric currents,
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In October of 1888 alone, Westinghouse received 45,000 orders, more than Edison had received in the entire year; by 1890, Westinghouse’s revenue exceeded $4 million. Edison’s failure stemmed from his unwillingness to change systems. When faced with the opportunity to embrace the alternating current in Edison said “My personal desire would be to prohibit entirely the use of alternating currents.” Edison’s opposition to the alternating current resulted in the collapse of Edison General Electric (it was renamed in 18__ after a series of mergers). In 1889, Henry Villard and J.P Morgan, who owned the majority of Edison General Electric stock, began negotiations, without Edison’s consent, with Thomas-Houston, an alternating current firm, about merging. In April of 1892, the merger was struck; Edison General Electric would merge with Thomas-Houston to form the General Electric company. Wall Street had chosen to strike Edison’s name from the company, and pushed him towards a small role on the Board of Directors. In that same year, Chicago would hold the “Columbian Exposition,” a “World’s Fair” celebrating Christopher Columbus, which demanded electric light at the fair. General Electric offered to electrify the fair for $554,000 but they were immediately undercut by Westinghouse Electric whose bid only cost $399,000; Westinghouse won the contract. In 1895, Westinghouse won a contract to build a hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls, and he sealed the alternating currents place in history. At the opening of the plant in 1897, Tesla, Westinghouse’s compatriot, said
In October of 1888 alone, Westinghouse received 45,000 orders, more than Edison had received in the entire year; by 1890, Westinghouse’s revenue exceeded $4 million. Edison’s failure stemmed from his unwillingness to change systems. When faced with the opportunity to embrace the alternating current in Edison said “My personal desire would be to prohibit entirely the use of alternating currents.” Edison’s opposition to the alternating current resulted in the collapse of Edison General Electric (it was renamed in 18__ after a series of mergers). In 1889, Henry Villard and J.P Morgan, who owned the majority of Edison General Electric stock, began negotiations, without Edison’s consent, with Thomas-Houston, an alternating current firm, about merging. In April of 1892, the merger was struck; Edison General Electric would merge with Thomas-Houston to form the General Electric company. Wall Street had chosen to strike Edison’s name from the company, and pushed him towards a small role on the Board of Directors. In that same year, Chicago would hold the “Columbian Exposition,” a “World’s Fair” celebrating Christopher Columbus, which demanded electric light at the fair. General Electric offered to electrify the fair for $554,000 but they were immediately undercut by Westinghouse Electric whose bid only cost $399,000; Westinghouse won the contract. In 1895, Westinghouse won a contract to build a hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls, and he sealed the alternating currents place in history. At the opening of the plant in 1897, Tesla, Westinghouse’s compatriot, said