The Shocking Rivalry That Lit Up the Modern World
At the dawn of the electric age in the late 19th century, three brilliant minds—Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and George Westinghouse—found themselves locked in a fierce and transformative battle. What was at stake? Nothing less than the future of electricity in the United States and, ultimately, the world.
This struggle, known as the War of Currents, was not only a clash of technology but also of ideology, business, and personality.
Edison and the Rise of Direct Current (DC)
Thomas Edison, already a legendary inventor by the 1880s, was a strong proponent of direct current (DC). His system of electricity, which flowed in a single direction, was safe and effective for short distances. Edison built the first commercial power plant in 1882 in New York City, powering homes and businesses with DC.
But DC had a flaw—it didn’t transmit power efficiently over long distances. That’s where his rivals stepped in.
Tesla and the Power of Alternating Current (AC)
Enter Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-born inventor with a vision for an alternating current system. AC electricity changes direction many times per second, making it ideal for long-distance transmission with minimal energy loss.
Tesla’s ideas were groundbreaking, but he lacked the business savvy (and funding) to bring them to life—until George Westinghouse, a Pittsburgh industrialist and engineer, took notice.
Westinghouse Joins the Fight
George Westinghouse saw the potential of Tesla’s AC system and bought his patents. With financial resources and an engineering background, Westinghouse set out to build a national AC power grid. This infuriated Edison, who had invested heavily in DC and feared losing control of the market.
Thus began a bitter public feud.
The War of Currents
The late 1880s saw an intense propaganda campaign. Edison warned the public that AC was dangerous, staging gruesome demonstrations in which animals were electrocuted to show its supposed risks. He even secretly supported the development of the electric chair, powered by AC, to associate it with death.
Meanwhile, Westinghouse and Tesla continued to improve and promote AC technology. Tesla dazzled audiences with demonstrations of safe high-voltage AC and developed key innovations like the induction motor, which helped solidify AC's superiority.
Turning Point: The 1893 World's Fair
The tide turned at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Westinghouse won the bid to light the entire fair using Tesla’s AC system—beating out Edison’s DC. The stunning display convinced the public and investors that AC was the future.
Shortly after, Westinghouse also won the contract to build the first major hydroelectric power plant at Niagara Falls, delivering AC power over miles to Buffalo, New York.
Aftermath and Legacy
Despite losing the current war, Edison remained an iconic figure. Tesla’s innovations became the foundation for modern electrical systems, though he died in relative obscurity. Westinghouse continued to be a powerful industrial leader and helped shape America’s power infrastructure.
Today, alternating current powers virtually everything—from our homes and businesses to massive cities around the world.
The battle between Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse wasn’t just about electricity—it was about vision, ambition, and the kind of world we wanted to build. In the end, their rivalry sparked one of the greatest technological revolutions in history, proving that even fierce competition can lead to progress that benefits us all.