Part 6/11:
Edison preferred direct current (DC) for electricity distribution, while Tesla championed alternating current (AC), which had the advantage of efficiently transmitting electricity over long distances without the risk of overpowering circuits. Tesla's ideas eventually led to clashes, particularly over fair compensation for his contributions, as Edison's company dismissed Tesla’s AC innovations.
The War of the Currents
This conflict escalated into the "War of the Currents." Despite Edison's attempts to discredit AC with public relations assaults—including animal electrocutions—Tesla and George Westinghouse effectively showcased AC's superior capabilities. Their successful collaboration culminated in the World's Colombian Exposition in 1893, solidifying AC as the future of electricity.