How Did The Telegraph Affect Society

The Click Heard Around the World No communication to distant relatives. No instant messages from friends. No contact to people in case of emergencies. Imagine living in a world with no cell phones, no landlines, no telegraph. The first efficient telegraph was made by American Samuel B. Morse, the creator and artist, in 1866 (“The World Book Millennium 2000 19”). What is a telegraph? How did it work? According to The World Book Millennium, the “Telegraph was the first instrument used to send messages by means of wires and electricity. Telegraph operators sent signals by interrupting the flow of electricity along a wire. They used short and longer bursts of electricity, with spaces in between, to represent the letters of the message in what

For instance, written letters between nations were never before prone to interference, but telegrams opened a whole new world for hackers (Under the Wire: How The Telegraph Changed Diplomacy). Governments kept track of the messages sent in their countries, but as soon as the message went through another line in a different country, they were again susceptible to interception (Under the Wire: How The Telegraph Changed Diplomacy). Furthermore, it was easier and quicker to transfer intelligence between empires. It shortened the amount of time governments could get messages to each other, allowing them to deliver more continual information and order more reports (Under the Wire: How The Telegraph Changed Diplomacy). Finally, a strain on relationships between nations was introduced. When a question on war or peace arises, messages were now sent in less than a day, rather than a week or months, which caused decisions to be made when leaders still were hot-headed over something, generating more tension between nations (Under the Wire: How The Telegraph Changed Diplomacy). News about the tension or decisions of the government were no longer a secret, due to the press expanding and

As a matter of fact, clickers made it possible to print newspapers at a faster rate (The Electric Telegraph). Originally, newspapers were only sold to premium members, but the telegraph allowed for the papers to be printed, which expanded the amount of papers to be produced and sold (The Electric Telegraph). Secondly, the telegraph was also used in group business settings to exchange information and news on their company (The Electric Telegraph). Different locations from one company could all join and direct a meeting (The Electric Telegraph). Lastly, the clicking noise of a telegraph led people to experiment with electro-music and audio testing to find a way to play music over telegraph (The Electric Telegraph). Telharmony was the name given to this type of music, and was later declared impractical, due to the intrusion of other calls, but was deemed as an idea with potential (The Electric Telegraph). Entertainment and media plays a huge role in politics, schooling, etc., and it all started because of the