The War of the Currents: The Alternating Current That Changed the World and Shattered Edison’s Myth

If Tesla had supported direct current, the world today would look completely different.

The history that was told to us wrong

When you hear the names Edison and Tesla, what comes to mind? Most people think: Edison – the light bulb, Tesla – coils and lightning. And while these associations are true, we often unknowingly perpetuate one of technology's biggest myths - a myth that's been circulating even in expert circles for decades - mistakenly attributing the promotion of alternating current (AC) to Edison and direct current (DC) to Tesla.
It’s time to clear this up once and for all. Ready?

Edison: The Direct Current Empire

Thomas Edison was not only a brilliant inventor but also a hard-nosed businessman. He created numerous inventions - perfecting the light bulb (he wasn't the first to invent it, but made it practical for widespread use), the phonograph, and many other solutions that changed people's lives. It was Edison who in 1882 built the first direct current power plant on Pearl Street in New York. It worked excellently in practice, but had one significant problem: direct current lost voltage after just a few kilometers, requiring new power plants almost on every street.

For Edison, this was a massive investment, an empire he wasn't willing to lose. He held patents, had substantial capital, and considerable media influence. Thus, he decided to destroy the competing solution - alternating current - by all means.

Tesla: A Visionary with Lightning in His Hands

Nikola Tesla was Edison's complete opposite. Born in what is now Croatia, the eccentric inventor had a mind far ahead of his time. He developed an alternating current system capable of transmitting electricity over dozens or hundreds of kilometers. Tesla envisioned a world where electricity could reach everywhere - every home, every workshop, every factory. This was revolutionary!

George Westinghouse joined Tesla, equally believing in this idea. He purchased Tesla’s patents and began large-scale electrification. And thus began the most famous technological conflict in history: the "War of the Currents."

The War of the Currents: Edison versus Tesla

Seeing he was technologically losing, Edison used his most potent weapon - propaganda. He aimed to convince people that alternating current was deadly dangerous. He organized public demonstrations electrocuting animals with alternating current, including the tragic death of the famous elephant Topsy, which he exploited to discredit AC. Edison also supported the development of the electric chair - powered by alternating current, even though he did not endorse it himself - solely to associate AC with death.

Yet, despite this brutal campaign, alternating current prevailed. In 1893, the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago was illuminated by Westinghouse and Tesla's AC system, showcasing to millions worldwide how brilliant and efficient alternating current was. A year later, the Niagara Falls hydroelectric power plant conclusively proved that the future of energy belonged to AC.

Who Really Invented the Light Bulb?

But let's revisit another popular myth. Everyone believes Edison invented the light bulb. However, the first bulbs were created much earlier - Humphry Davy developed a primitive arc lamp in 1802, and Joseph Swan patented a more advanced version in 1878 in Great Britain. Edison managed to refine the bulb, making it practical and usable in every home. This was a tremendous success for him, but he was not the first to invent the bulb—a misconception commonly attributed to him.

As Zdzisław Roskal writes:

"Thomas Edison was not the creator of the bulb concept. He achieved something crucial - he transformed a laboratory invention into a mass-produced product, achievable, functional, and accessible to the average user." (1)

Why Does the Myth About Edison and Tesla Persist?

So why does this myth persist, and why can we still encounter individuals, even in scientific circles, perpetuating this mistake? The cause is effective propaganda and oversimplification of history in educational and popular media. Edison actively utilized alternating current - but solely to demonstrate its dangers. If someone reads about it superficially, they may incorrectly conclude that Edison was promoting alternating current. Such incorrect information can still be found today - particularly in certain popular internet sources or careless discussions, making it important to clearly rectify this.(6)

Yet, there is one undeniable truth: the world as we know it today, the world of electricity transmission and global electrification, is owed to Nikola Tesla’s vision.

Tesla’s Legacy—More Relevant Today Than Ever

Without alternating current, there would be no modern power plants, global electrical grids, metropolitan cities, or mass electrification. Edison gave people the light - but Tesla made it possible for that light to reach everywhere.

Today, the name Tesla symbolizes cutting-edge technology, electric vehicles, and renewable energy sources. Meanwhile, Edison remains a symbol of the beginnings of the electrical revolution - significant, but only the first stage.

The Electric Truth: How Tesla Completed Edison’s Work

The story of Edison and Tesla isn't about who's better or worse. It’s about two great individuals who changed the world forever - one a business genius, the other a visionary genius.
It's simply about knowing how things really happened and why we use alternating current, not direct current.
Because sometimes it's worthwhile for the world to know the whole truth, not just a convenient or simplified version.

References and Sources:

(1) Roskal, Z. E., Historia naturalna światła elektrycznego, KUL, Lublin 2018, p. 112.
(2) Świrski, K., AC/DC i War of Currents - Tesla i Edison, Politechnika Gdańska, Gdańsk 2011, p. 73.
(3) Cheney, M., Tesla. Człowiek, który wynalazł XX wiek, Prószyński i S-ka, Warszawa 2004, p. 201.
(4) Pawlikowski, A., Propaganda w historii techniki: przypadek Thomasa Edisona, Uniwersytet Warszawski, Warszawa 2021, p. 95.
(5) Seifer, M.J., Nikola Tesla. Biografia, Astra, Kraków 2015, p. 214.
(6) "Edison był agresywnym graczem i opatentował krzesło elektryczne zasilane prądem przemiennym, żeby pokazać jego niebezpieczeństwo", wGospodarce.pl, article available online, 2023.