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Europeans are routinely cast as history's villains for their colonial endeavors. In truth, the advancements pioneered by Western societies — from electricity and vaccines to modern agriculture and computing — have benefited virtually every human alive today.
Quick challenge: Name five everyday things you’re using right now that were invented by Europeans or people of European descent.
My list would include
1. The internet. Vint Cerf (Vinton Cerf) and Bob Kahn (Robert Kahn) are widely recognized as the "fathers of the Internet."
2. Satellites. Russian engineer Sergei Korolev is credited as the inventor of the first satellite (Sputnik 1) that launched in 1957. No satellites, no modern internet as we know it.
3. PCs. John Blankenbaker created the first personal computer, Kenbak-1 (1971). Aimed at education and hobbyists, only about 40 were sold.
4. Pacemaker. Rune Elmqvist (Swedish engineer/physician) designed and built the first fully implantable cardiac pacemaker.
5. Electricity. While no one invented electricity, Nikola Tesla developed the polyphase AC system that powers our grid, computers, and lighting. Thomas Edison deserves credit for creating the first practical DC electrical distribution systems. Interestingly, Tesla electric vehicles still rely on DC batteries, which are then converted to AC to power the motors.
So while the woke left busies itself "decolonizing" Western culture, I wonder if it will also "decolonize" the countless innovations that enhance our lives.
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Now, let's focus on number 5, the men who colonized electricity.
Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla’s fierce rivalry over how to electrify America reshaped the modern world.
Edison Lights the Way
In October 1879, the 31-year-old Edison, already famous for inventing the phonograph, succeeded in creating a practical incandescent light bulb with a carbonized filament. His ambition extended well beyond the bulb: he sought to build a complete electrical system to replace gas lighting. In 1882, Edison launched Pearl Street Station, the first central power plant in the United States, delivering direct current (DC) to customers in lower Manhattan. While effective in dense urban areas, DC could reliably transmit power only about a half-mile from the station, limiting its reach and making rural electrification impractical.
Tesla’s Revolutionary Idea
Nikola Tesla, a brilliant Serbian engineer, arrived in America in 1884 eager to work with Edison. Tasked with improving DC generators, Tesla proved his skills but parted ways after a promised $50,000 bonus was dismissed as a joke. Tesla then focused on developing an alternating current (AC) system, including a revolutionary brushless induction motor. Unlike DC, AC could be transmitted at high voltages over long distances and safely stepped down for everyday use, offering greater efficiency and scalability.
The War of the Currents Begins
In 1888, industrialist George Westinghouse acquired Tesla’s AC patents for $60,000 plus royalties. The move directly challenged Edison’s growing empire. Edison and his supporters launched a fierce public campaign, staging demonstrations that electrocuted animals with AC to highlight its supposed dangers while promoting DC as safe. When New York State needed a method for executions, Edison’s team advocated for the use of AC in the first electric chair. In 1890, the botched execution of William Kemmler in Auburn Prison became a grim spectacle that Edison’s side used to label AC “the death current.”
Showdown at Niagara Falls
The ultimate test arrived at Niagara Falls. In 1893, the Niagara Falls Power Company evaluated proposals to harness the falls’ immense power. Despite Edison’s personal pitch for DC, his own company’s board secretly favored AC. Westinghouse and Tesla won the contract. By 1896, Tesla’s AC system successfully transmitted electricity more than 20 miles to Buffalo, demonstrating its superiority for large-scale power distribution.
A Costly Victory
Legal battles and royalty demands strained Westinghouse financially. To save the company and ensure AC’s future, Tesla generously released Westinghouse from millions in licensing fees, a decision that ultimately left him in financial hardship. Tesla died penniless in a New York hotel room in 1943. Edison, who secured over 1,000 patents, saw his DC system become obsolete. Today, alternating current powers nearly all electricity in the United States and remains the global standard.
Sometimes I get things wrong. If you notice a significant error, please bring it to my attention in the comment section.
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Pearl Street, Niagara Falls and the war of the currents [https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240923-the-feud-at-the-beginning-of-new-yorks-electricity]
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