They were trying to decide which electricity system, either direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC)–would become normal. During the War of the Currents, Edison was trying to promote the direct-current system (DC), where electrical current would flow progressively in one direction. Tesla and Westinghouse on the other hand promoted the alternating-current system, in which the flow of the currents would constantly alternate (AC).
Nikola …show more content…
Thomas Edison pitched a propaganda campaign to discredit alternating current (AC) and emphasize on how good the direct current (DC) was and started to convince the general public using the alternating current (AC) was dangerous. As part of this campaign, Thomas Edison would use animals and publicly electrocuted with alternating currents (AC). When New York State sought a more humane way then hanging its prisoners who are receiving the death-penalty prisoners, Thomas Edison, once an opposed capital punishment, ironically recommended the alternating current (AC) as the fastest powered electrocution, deadliest option. In the late 1800s a convicted murderer by the name of William Kemmler became the first person to die using the electric chair. The machine (electric chair) was designed by someone who Thomas Edison was paying and was powered by a Westinghouse alternating current (AC)