Thomas Alva Edison Essay Sample
The society of the world has been evolving at a tremendous rate thanks to lots of people with brilliant ideas and people who have the motivation to make it a reality. Furthermore, there is one person that has both those qualities and has revolutionized the inventing industry. Born in Milan, Ohio on February 11, 1847, Thomas Alva Edison was one of the most influential people in history, he changed the entire society of America with just his mind.
When Edison was a young child, he went through many struggles to become a massive impact on society. “In all, Edison had just three months of school because his teacher thought he had a short attention span and was not very smart”(How Thomas Edison Overcame a Lack of Formal Education to Create Inventions That Would Change the World). This was not the only obstacle that Edison faced. “Ultimately, he was 100% deaf in his left ear and 80% deaf in his right ear. But he never let this stop him, always finding ways to compensate for his hearing loss”(How Thomas Edison Overcame a Lack of Formal Education to Create Inventions That Would Change the World). Edison was deaf. Although these struggles held him back dramatically through his life and career, he would never let this stop him, he kept his mentality and kept on pushing through his career.
Through his early years, Edison noticed a flaw in society. There weren’t any very safe and reliable light sources. This made society very difficult, knowing this, he tried to create the first reliable and safe light bulb. With this idea in his head, he started extensive research and through hundreds of tries and experiments he succeeded. This was just one test of his character and was just one way that proved he was a changemaker. Edison was “not easily shaken by detractors—persistent in their work”(“What Characterizes Inventors Like Edison?”). This was his most famous invention and completely changed the world. When inventing the lightbulb there were many impacts that people didn't even realize. Firstly, “the economic impact of the light bulb was that it allowed factories and other businesses to run even in the night. This increased economic production dramatically”(“How Did Thomas Edison's Light Bulb Affect the World?”). This is just one example of the economic impact of the lightbulb. Another way was “Edison invented the incandescent light bulb in 1879. The light bulb contributed to the economic growth of the United States by encouraging the development of factories that could be located wherever electric lines could be strung. Electricity also contributed to the growth of transportation”(“How Did Thomas Edison's Light Bulb Affect the World?”). Despite just being an inventor Edison also greatly influenced the economy of that time.
There are many economic impacts of the lightbulb. However, there are many impacts that aren’t economically related but related to everyday life and society. “The electric light bulb has been called the most important invention since man-made fire. The light bulb helped to establish social order after sundown, extended the workday well into the night, and allowed us to navigate and travel safely in the dark. Without the light bulb, there would be no nightlife”(“How Did Thomas Edison's Light Bulb Affect the World?”). This just shows how much of a revolutionary invention the lightbulb was. Furthermore, the lightbulb was the first reliable source of light and really helped improve everyday life. Many people were able to be much more productive at night and with light could achieve the goals they wanted to reach at a way faster rate.
From a young age Edison had the motivation to invent, “At 15, he decided to travel across the country, sending and receiving messages over the telegraph for trains and the Union Army during the Civil War. The experience inspired his lifelong passion for invention”(“Thomas Edison.” Mental Floss). After the lightbulb, with very much motivation and confidence, Edison started to develop his second major invention, the Kinetophone in 1889. Edison saw a problem with motion pictures, there weren't very great qualities of sound in films, so he decided to try and change that. This was the second invention of his that had a major impact on society. “The Kinetophone was an important first start for sound motion pictures and greatly impacted later films with talking and sound”(“Kinetophone”). Even though the Kinetophone wasn’t the perfect solution and still produced many flaws, it inspired other inventions. “The Jazz Singer, the first full-length sound motion picture, came to the big screen. It used a sound technology called Vitaphone, which like the Kinetophone employed a phonograph disc mechanically synchronized with the film”(“Kinetophone”).
Throughout all his inventions Edison never gave up, he had many troubles throughout his career. “The inventor's life was not always easy. A myriad of business liaisons, partnerships, and corporations occupied Edison, and his legal battles were continuous”(“Who Made America? | Innovators | Thomas Edison.”). However, through all this, he kept going. Edison once said, "The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are: Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common sense"(“What Characterizes Inventors Like Edison?”). This just shows Edison’s attitude towards life and his career.
All things considered, Thomas Alva Edison was one of the most influential people in history, he changed the entire society of America with just his mind. He has created one of the most influential inventions known throughout history. Furthermore, he made huge contributions to society through his inventions, and his inventions continue to better life today. Although what truly made him a changemaker was his ability to adapt and stick with his ideas throughout all his obstacles. He had physical problems, financial problems, and many others. Just like any other influential person of society, these obstacles pushed him to his limits, although revealed his true character and why he is a changemaker.
