In the 1800s, there was an explosion of American inventions that had a global reach. The invention of the telegraph and the telephone enabled people to communicate farther and faster. In 1866, cables were laid across the Atlantic Ocean allowing long distance messages to be sent between continents.
Thomas Edison was an American inventor who made a tremendous impact with his inventions. Edison secured more than 1000 patents for his inventions ranging from the incandescent light bulb to the phonograph. His most notable contributions during the 19th century were the improvements he made to the telegraph and telephone. Starting in 1870, Edison made improvements to the telegraph with the Western Union Telegraph Company. In 1877, he invented a device that transmitted voices and sounds more clearly on the telephone.
Click on this link to watch a video about Thomas Edison and answer the following questions.
How did the invention of Edison’s light bulb transform the way people lived and worked in America?
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The invention of the light bulb eliminated America’s reliance on daylight to live and work.
How did the invention of Edison’s light bulb lead to more of his inventions?
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Since the light bulb required electricity, Edison devised a way to distribute electricity to multiple locations.