The War of the Currents: Edison Sold Fear to Protect a Monopoly
In the late 1880s, the United States faced a technical choice that would decide how cities received electricity. Thomas Edison sold direct current, while George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla developed alternating current. Direct current worked for small stations but lost voltage quickly over distance. Alternating current could change voltage through transformers, travel long distances and then be reduced for homes.
⬛ CONFIDENTIAL MysteriesLab Editorial 9/1/2026 1 min read
In the late 1880s, the United States faced a technical choice that would decide how cities received electricity. Thomas Edison sold direct current, while George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla developed alternating current. Direct current worked for small stations but lost voltage quickly over distance. Alternating current could change voltage through transformers, travel long distances and then be reduced for homes.
In the late 1880s, the United States faced a technical choice that would decide how cities received electricity. Thomas Edison sold direct current, while George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla developed alternating current. Direct current worked for small stations but lost voltage quickly over distance. Alternating current could change voltage through transformers, travel long distances and then be reduced for homes.
In the late 1880s, the United States faced a technical choice that would decide how cities received electricity. Thomas Edison sold direct current, while George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla developed alternating current. Direct current worked for small stations but lost voltage quickly over distance. Alternating current could change voltage through transformers, travel long distances and then be reduced for homes.
In the late 1880s, the United States faced a technical choice that would decide how cities received electricity. Thomas Edison sold direct current, while George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla developed alternating current. Direct current worked for small stations but lost voltage quickly over distance. Alternating current could change voltage through transformers, travel long distances and then be reduced for homes.
In the late 1880s, the United States faced a technical choice that would decide how cities received electricity. Thomas Edison sold direct current, while George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla developed alternating current. Direct current worked for small stations but lost voltage quickly over distance. Alternating current could change voltage through transformers, travel long distances and then be reduced for homes.