What is the Telegraph?

 

Until 1793, communication across the world was carried out through primitive methods. People used tools such as mirrors, carrier pigeons, fire signals, and letters as communication mediums. Although the telegraph is not widely used today, it was considered a groundbreaking invention for its time. Invented by Frenchman Claude Chappe, this device was the first communication tool to utilize electricity.

This device initially made use of towers employed during wars to convey enemy positions. Movable arms placed at the tops of these towers were used to transmit signals and letters, marking the first steps toward the development of the telegraph. As the first technological communication tool in history, it underwent significant improvements over time. With advancements in technical capabilities, the towers were upgraded, extending the telegraph network over greater distances.

It is known that the device had a communication network stretching approximately 4,828 kilometers. In 1830, American Joseph Henry succeeded in transmitting electrical currents over long distances, enabling a bell to ring with the help of an electromagnet. In 1835, Samuel Morse created the first electromagnetic telegraph. This device used an electromagnet and a pen to draw lines on paper. Although initially unsuccessful, Morse and his assistant worked to identify and resolve issues, improving the device's mechanism. Following extensive research, Samuel Morse developed the Morse code, consisting of dots and dashes, which became synonymous with his name. In 1837, two Englishmen, William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone, managed to transmit messages via electrical currents over wires.

The Development and Use of the Telegraph

After its invention, communication through the telegraph was limited to transmitting or receiving a single message in one direction at a time for many years. In the latter half of the 19th century, electric circuits capable of handling multiple messages simultaneously were developed. This advancement greatly enhanced the quality and functionality of telegraphic communication.

Jean-Maurice-Emille Baudot, the inventor of multi-circuit systems, introduced a distributing system in 1872 and named it the multi-circuit system. In this system, telegraph terminals at both the sending and receiving ends were equipped with printing devices. The sender wrote messages using the device, generating electrical pulses. These pulses activated the keys on the receiving telegraph's keyboard, transmitting the message.

Baudot's innovation allowed for the sequential and precise transmission of characters, enabling users to exchange messages efficiently along the same line. This development allowed for seamless communication between users on the same telegraph network.

Establishment of Telegraph Lines and the First Message

The first telegraph line in history was established in 1843, connecting Washington, Baltimore, and Maryland. The first message, sent using this machine by Samuel Morse, was the phrase "What hath God wrought?" Morse, originally a painter by profession, received his first medal from the Ottoman Sultan. In Turkish lands, the telegraph was first tested for research purposes by Samuel Morse in 1847 at Beylerbeyi Palace in Istanbul in the presence of Sultan Abdülmecid Han.

The Telegraph’s Social and Global Impact

The invention of the telegraph introduced new social interactions, conceptual systems, languages, economic structures, and political arrangements. It expanded the boundaries of communication and allowed for the reconceptualization of time. Understanding its societal role requires a historical analysis, particularly of the socio-economic structures of the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries, to better comprehend the invention and its aftermath.

The telegraph led to the establishment of the first major industrial monopoly, Western Union, which set an example for subsequent monopolistic organizations. It can also be described as the first engineering-based device utilizing electrical energy in industry. Additionally, the telegraph introduced significant changes in linguistic structures through its unique alphabet.

With the telegraph, messages could move independently of the physical relocation of objects. This technology also facilitated physical control through communication, such as using telegraph signals to manage railway tracks and train movements.
Another significant impact of the telegraph was on written media. The language used in newspapers became standardized, moving away from local dialects. News production adopted rational models, becoming routine and rapid. News became transportable, measurable, and reducible to simplified forms. The direct relationship between readers and writers was replaced by organizational intermediaries.

While newspapers became factories for producing news, readers had to adapt to standardized language, leading to the decline and eventual disappearance of local dialects. Despite the conveniences brought by the telegraph, this was considered one of its disadvantages.

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