The Telegraph

The telegraph was an invention that sent messages through long wires. It used electricity to send short and long signals. People used a special code called Morse code to spell out words. Before the telegraph, sending a message far away could take weeks.

How It Worked

A person would tap a small key at one end of a wire. Each tap sent a burst of electricity to the other end. The bursts made dots and dashes, which stood for letters. Someone on the other side would listen and write down the message.

Changing the World

In 1844, Samuel Morse sent the first telegraph message in the United States. Soon, wires were strung across countries and even under the ocean. News could travel in minutes instead of weeks. The telegraph was a big step toward phones and the internet.

Fun Facts

• Morse code uses only dots and dashes to spell every letter.
• Telegraph wires were laid across the Atlantic Ocean in 1858.
• The first message Morse sent was 'What hath God wrought.'

Did You Know?

The word 'telegraph' comes from Greek words that mean 'far writer.'