From its first patent in 1840, the telegraph invented by Samuel Morse significantly impacted American society. The telegraph electrically transmitted messages with a code that used dots and dashes to represent each letter and number. These dots and dashes became known as the Morse code and were used as a universal language. Operators sent short and long pulses of electricity and receivers listened and interpreted the codes. By 1861, the telegraph reached California and the nation was networked with fifty thousand miles of wires. America was finally connected; international affairs, businesses, government, newspapers, and even clocks were impacted by the innovative device. The telegraph was a huge success in the 19th century and changed America overnight by overcoming vast distances with its speed and efficiency.
Q1. The telegraph depended on Morse code (each letter and number was represented with dots and dashes). How long do you think it took to learn this new system as an operator/receiver, and why do you think it took that long?
Q2. Do you think when a new operator/receiver was first learning the Morse code did they misinterpret and might have caused public panic and social disruption? Why or why not?
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