03/04/2026
When electricity first began spreading through cities in the late 19th century, it sparked widespread fear. Overhead, tangled networks of power lines and street lamps appeared almost overnight, and most people had little understanding of how the technology worked. Early systems sometimes used exposed wiring and poor insulation, which did lead to occasional shocks and fires.
Images like exaggerated cartoons played into these anxieties, depicting pedestrians being electrocuted by lamps and wires, presenting electricity as chaotic and deadly. Such illustrations circulated widely during the War of Currents, when competing electrical systems battled for dominance and public trust.
Despite the fear, electrification quickly proved revolutionary. Electric lighting replaced hazardous gas lamps, factories became more efficient, and cities grew safer and more active after dark. What once seemed like a dangerous experiment soon became a cornerstone of modern life.
During this rivalry, Thomas Edison staged public demonstrations in which animals were electrocuted using alternating current to portray it as dangerous, in opposition to Nikola Tesla’s system. This campaign even contributed to the development of the first electric chair in the 1890s.
