Introduction
The influence of such eminent scientists and inventors as Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla on the culture and lifestyle of America is significant. Both these personalities made a huge contribution to the development of certain industries and provided valuable research that served as the basis for subsequent generations. Nevertheless, disputes arise about whose figure is more influential, and this work is aimed at analyzing the inventors’ impact on American society.
Comparison of Individual Contribution
Both inventors are considered innovators, but their approaches to work were different, which led to distinctive outcomes. According to Martin, the scholars refused the Nobel Prize due to their resentment at each other (124). Tesla wanted to become Edison’s student, but in the end, he had to work separately because his mentor did not approve the ideas of the talented young scientist. As a result, their approaches to working on electricity were fundamentally different.
As Martin remarks, Edison and Tesla laid the foundations of the entire electrification system and, working in the USA, contributed significantly to the development of the technological base of the country (21). The first one was the practitioner who managed to patent a huge number of inventions, which he either created himself or improved on other people’s projects. Tesla was younger and more active, but his activities with alternating current were no less valuable, and many modern mechanisms work due to the principles that he discovered. It is impossible to answer the question of whose contribution was more significant since each of the scientists changed the course of history and turned the USA into one of the first powers with a developed electrical base.
Conclusion
The influence of both inventors on the development of America is difficult to consider in the context of comparison since the scientists left numerous valuable discoveries. Edison and Tesla had different approaches to the implementation of their ideas. However, the question of the greater or lesser significance of each of the personalities is incorrect. Their work may be considered in the context of rivalry, but due to their activities, today, America is a highly developed state with an advanced technological base.
Work Cited
Martin, Joel. Edison vs. Tesla: The Battle over Their Last Invention. Skyhorse Publishing, 2017.