The Growing Pains of Urbanization 1870-1900 - Electric Lighting

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) The Growing Pains of Urbanization, 1870-1900 Electric Lighting In 1879, Thomas Edison received a patent for the incandescent lightbulb. This breakthrough swiftly spread to industries and residences, changing the way even middle-class and lower-class Americans lived. When the first commercial power plants opened in 1882, electric electricity became widely available in cities even though it was sluggish to spread to rural sections of the nation. Power sources for lighting and other industrial equipment might be found miles away from the power source when Nikola Tesla later created the AC (alternating current) system for the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. The adoption of AC power changed how electricity was used and made it possible for cities to physically encircle larger regions. Electric lighting allowed the manufacturers to function seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Because of the need for more labor due to the growth in production, more people were moving into cities. Cities gradually started installing electric lighting in the streets so that they could stay lit all night. Unlike in smaller towns, the tempo of life and commercial activity did not significantly slow down at dusk. The cities remained open round the clock, following the factories that brought people to them. With the invention of the incandescent lamp in 1879, Thomas Edison changed the world and significantly altered the trajectory of urbanization in the United States. Even middle-class and lowerclass Americans' everyday lives were drastically changed by this technology, which quickly swept throughout industry and residential areas. The advent of electric lighting brought about a significant transformation in urban settings by bringing about an unprecedented amount of illumination. The first commercial power plants appeared by 1882, signaling the beginning of a new phase of city electricity. Electric electricity was slowly introduced to rural parts of the country, despite being centered on metropolitan areas at first. However, the greater distribution of electricity was made possible by Nikola Tesla's creation of the AC (alternating current) system for the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. This allowed power sources for industrial equipment and lights to be located miles distant from the producing facilities. This invention not only altered the way that electricity was used, but it also made it possible for towns to physically encircle more areas than they had in the past. The widespread use of electric illumination affected industrial productivity in a significant way. With the capacity to run their plants twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, manufacturers could now greatly increase their output. Due to the increase in manufacturing activity, there was a greater need for labor, which led to an increase in the number of individuals moving to metropolitan areas in pursuit of jobs. As a result, cities saw a sharp increase in the number of migrants, thus increasing their populations. Cities installed electric street lighting in response to the growing need for illumination, making sure that metropolitan areas were well-lit all night long. In contrast to smaller towns where business often slowed down after sunset, city life carried on at a constant pace. Electric street lighting changed urban nightlife by enabling businesses to stay open late and promoting a thriving culture of the night. The widespread use of electric illumination changed social dynamics in addition to revolutionizing urban business. Greater social contact and leisure activities were encouraged after dark as public places became safer and more accessible. Cities' electrification aided in the development of a thriving nighttime scene, with theaters, eateries, and other entertainment facilities satisfying the rising urban population's need for entertainment and recreation. Furthermore, the widespread use of electric illumination was crucial to the creation of contemporary transportation networks. Efficient travel inside cities was made possible by well-lit streets that enabled the operation of public transit networks, including subways and electric streetcars. Because electricity made it simpler for individuals to go to and from work, it further hastened urbanization and contributed to the continued growth of metropolitan regions. In conclusion, the introduction of electric lighting in the late 19th century was a game-changing development that propelled American city expansion and altered urban life. The extensive use of electric lighting had a significant and wide-ranging impact on the course of urbanization in the United States, changing industrial productivity, promoting a thriving nightlife, and easing transportation.