Age of Edison: Chapter 8- Inventing a Profession

Age of Edison: Chapter 8- Inventing a Profession

Summary-
When the fourth annual convention of the National Electric Light Association was held in 1887, thousands of electricians flocked to meet each other in Boston. Regardless of business competition the electricians bonded and admired the limitless "light for all". Years later in 1890 however, he story was quite different. Electrical fires and accidents had shaken the industry, and provoked strong public backlash. A battle between the cities and the electric companies had begun , but the cities could not last long, for the citizens "needed their electricity". On the other side of things, another battle within the electric companies put direct-current against alternating-current. These fights put eletric lighting in a more difficult situation than it had been in for the past few years. Despite the death, the public ultimately stayed fascinated with the "mysterious" electrical lighting systems. Although few knew what electricity actually was, it didn't stop them from enjoying the lifestyle it provided.

Key Terms-
NELA
Westinghouse
Direct-Current
Alternating-Current
John Feeks

Pictures-

"Westinghouse and Tesla." Tesla Society. Accessed March 17, 2015. http://www.teslasociety.com/happybirthday.htm.

"TBD." Blogspot. Accessed March 17, 2015. http://nichehop.blogspot.com/.

Questions-

What improvements have been made in order to stop frequent malfunctions of electric wires?

Were wires more dangerous than they were good?

What did Edison so strongly oppose Alternating-Current?

Age of Edison: Chapter 7- Looking at Inventions, Inventing New Ways of Looking

Age of Edison: Chapter 7- Looking at Inventions, Inventing New Ways of Looking

Summary- America had exploded with a surge of new inventors trying to get their own patents. Inventors showed of inventions at fairs, and people took lessons on a great deal of varied sciences. The public was constantly growing hungrier for electric inventions and novelties. In all fields of science, electric light begun to change the game. In photography for example, photographers no longer had to rely on sunlight for the perfect picture. Doctors also recognized the new light's power and began to use it throughout the medical field to improve health. Inventions kept piling up and there seemed to be no end in sight. Many people began to wonder though, was it all too much?

Key Terms-
People's University
Pedagogies
Tecgnoligical Revolution

Pictures-

"Old US Patent Office (circa 1900)." Welcome to the New Home Page. Accessed March 17, 2015. http://www.tlc-ip.com/.

Questions-
Where there any inventions that specifialy made people think that it had gone too far?
What were the most influiential inventions of the time period that were based off of the light bulb?

Age of Edison: Chapter 6 Inventive Nation

Age of Edison: Chapter 6 Inventive Nation

Summary-
In the years after the production of the light bulb, America became more inventive than ever.Electrical exhibitions became popular as people tried to find new ways to use electric lighting. A problem developed though, as light bulb producers had to make less efficient bulbs to avoid patents. It all came down to who originally created the light bulb, and popular opinion suggested that it was Edison himself.American's also began to wonder why they were becoming much more inventive than their European counterparts. Even Edison did not have an answer to this when reporters questioned him. The grip that the electric light bulb had on American's was stronger than in any other country, and it inspired them to go out and create their own wonderful devices. In this time period of inspiration, American's took over the field of invention, which helped launch the country further ahead than those in Europe.

Key Terms-
Franklin Institute
1884 International Electrical Exhibition
Electrical clubs
US Patent System
'Looking Backwards

Pictures-

"Electrical Units History. - Le Blog D'histoire Des Sciences." Le Blog D'histoire Des Sciences. Accessed March 17, 2015. http://histoires-de-sciences.over-blog.fr/2013/11/electrical-units-history.html.

Questions-
Were American and European inventors in huge competition or did they work together?
Why didn't Europe adopt electrical lighting as quickly as the US?

Age of Edison: Chapter 5- Leisure Light

Age of Edison: Chapter 5- Leisure Light

Summary- Electric lighting not only changed work life, but social life as well. People were able to better enjoy the night life of the city, while feeling safer. Plays became increasingly popular, as they introduced lighting in the shows themselves. The worlds fair even included thousands of these lights in a light tower designed by Edison to showcase his achievement. Wild West Shows also took advantage of the new lighting systems, to illuminate cowboys underneath them. Cities included more and more lights along the streets, increasing nightly strolls, and the owns over all nightlife.Amusement parks like Coney Island drew in large crowds with their bright lights that shined throughout the park. Edison's lights were finding their way into almost every attraction there was across he country. This introduction to better lighting sparked the love of these attractions that American's have today.

Key Terms-
Carcinogenic fog
The Spirit of Electricity
Edison's Light Tower
Luna Park
Electric Torchlight Procession

Pictures-

"Lighting Milestones." Discover Lighting! History Milestones in Lighting. Accessed March 17, 2015. http://www.ies.org/lighting/history/timeline-of-lighting.cfm.

Questions-
What aspects of previous entertainment still existed after the introduction of electric lights?
Did the push towards entertainment largely change American's goals?

Age of Edison: Chapter 4- Work Light

Age of Edison: Chapter 4- Work Light

Summery-
New electric lighting had drastically changed the work lives of people living in big cities. In some area's the sun was completely blocked by buildings, and the lights of the night became the new day for these modern day "cave dwellers". Electric lights now made working during the night more of a reality than ever before. Managers could require later hours , and not have to worry about poor manufacturing due to poor lighting. This caused many social strikes, with workers refusing to work the longer hours into the night. The transportation industry was also changed with electric lighting, specifically sailing. Better lighthouses were constructed, yet for certain sailors, the blinding light only made matters worse.

Key Terms-
Brooklyn Bridge
Man Made Chronological Clock
Hell's Gate
Search Light Excursions

Pictures-

"Brooklyn Bridge." Brooklyn Bridge. Accessed March 17, 2015. http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/brooklyn/.

Questions-
Did the boost of certain businesses thanks to electric lighting make up for the decline of others due to the same reason?
Which business was the most affected by the lighting systems?

Age of Edison: Chapter 3- Creative Destruction: Edison and the Gas Companies

Age of Edison: Chapter 3- Creative Destruction: Edison and the Gas Companies

Summary- Edison continued to improve his electric lights in every way he could. He was also able to overcome political and technical challenges involved in installing his lighting system in lower Manhattan. Finally, on September 4 1882, Edison turned the system on and provided electrical light to thousands living in the square mile around him. From the start, Edison realized he needed a light bulb that was easily replaceable and disposable. Only facing a few small glitches, Edison succeeded where leading electrical experts assured he would fail. This success led to contracts around the world and a further expansion of Edison's business. With this growth came more problems this time concerning the safety hazards the wires had become. Electric companies pointed to the large amounts of death caused by gas lighting problems, showing that electric is safer in the end.

Key Terms-
Horsepower
Pearl Street
Andrew Hickenlooper
4-C's
Electrical World

Pictures-

"Edison Central Station." PBS. Accessed March 17, 2015. http://www.pbs.org/tesla/ll/am_pearlst_pop.html.

Questions-
Were the safety risks of electricity worth the convenience?
Did the public ever really turn on Edison for these dangers?

Age of Edison: Chapter 1- Inventing Electric Light

Age of Edison: Chapter 1- Inventing Electric Light

Summary-
Electric lighting was one of the latest electrical inventions of the gilded age. It was also unlike many of the inventions during this time, because instead of being just a convenience, it liberated us from nature and the dark. America quickly adopted the lighting system when it became more efficient, to the point where countries across the Atlantic saw it as a "technological marvel". This was not the case when the electric light was first becoming a reality. While inspiring, the lighting was complicated and inefficient at first. The arc light was more widely adopted than the incandescent light after they were first introduced by Davy in 1810. Many sought to utilize the new electric lighting but time and time again could not produce an efficient light. It was not until Charles Brush improved the arc light that America began to replace gas lamps. Starting out in a park in Cleveland, moving to the town of Wabash, Indiana, and finally out into businesses, Brush's arc lamps stunned everyone who saw them, creating a push for even more electrical lighting. After a few inventors began to try and revive the incandescent light, Edison began his work on it as well. He was not only focused on the light itself, but the creating of an entire lighting system that could run throughout a city. Edison's biggest problem was finding a filament for the bulb that wouldn't burn up in the heat. After many experiments and much ridicule from the public, Edison began his greatest challenge, which was creating a functional electrical system, while facing off against the gas company giants.

Key Terms-
Gilded Age
Alessandro Volta
Sir Humphry Davy
Arc Light
Michael Faraday
Josef Henry
Pavel Jablochkoff
Charles Brush

Pictures-

Volta's Battery

Questions-
Why were American's so quick to jump on electric lighting while other countries were not?
Who was more beneficial, Brush or Edison?