The Telegraph: The Wonder Working Wire

On June 20, 1840 Samuel F.B. Morse was accredited as the inventor of the Telegraph. This “Wonder Working Wire” as some called it, began to change the 19th century and project what the possibilities were for the future of national communications. Morse had gotten his inspiration to invent this machine from the works of Andre Ampere of France, Alessandro Volta of Italy, and Joseph Henry of the United States. These men’s curiosity of electromagnetism sparked Morse’s idea to create a device that would send messages telegraphically, through the use of electricity. Through a series of taps on the telegraph, a code later named Morse code was created as means of communication from one location to the next. As the development continued, in 1842 he tried an experiment to conjoin wires from Washington D.C. to Baltimore, and succeeded. By 1846 most eastern cities were connected by the telegraph. Although costly at $1 per word, this revolutionary piece brought people and families alike together by connecting them through distance.

1. How has the invention of the telegraph changed the culture of the 19th century compared to the America we know today? How do our values differentiate?

2. What are some examples as to how the econonmy changed from the telegraph and opportunities that arose from it?

3. What do you think could have inspired Samuel Morse to create the telegraph?

American Anti-Slavery Society 1833, Declaration of Sentiments

An insider from the American Anti-Slavery Society speaks out through his piece “Declaration of Sentiments” in 1833 to give light into how this Society thinks and feels about slavery.  The author is arguing the case that slaves, in all respects, should be free because it is morally and ethically wrong for a person to own or have control over another. He argued that people of color should be given the same rights as any person, the same privileges to live and enjoy life, to be free and be respected as an equal. The author uses a lot of pathos for his arguments, pulling emotion out of examples of certain circumstances people underwent such as: hunger, being cut off from family members, beaten and forced into slavery. He uses descriptions that draw out emotion so that one can empathize with how these people are being treated. The author uses logos throughout the examples he gives to his audience as to how these slaves are treated. He also uses biblical examples to support his dispute that slavery is not permissible for the American Christian. He claims scripture says every man who claims ownership over another as property is a ‘man-stealer’.  His character comes out boldly in ethos matter as he is beginning to end his claim he gives his own reasons, and those of others opinions as to why slaves should go free in an almost poetic manner. He places value on slaves as real people, not as property to be sold, and says these men and women should be given the right to earn wages.

I would think that in the time this document was written, it was merely the beginning of Americas division on slavery. Many people were accustomed to having and owning slaves, it was a way of life. Thinking that it was over 100 years later that Martin Luther King were to come and make his stance, this was controversial in and of itself in 1833. It was relevant for others to start questioning their motives and looking at slavery in a different perspective. In that year, Britain had passed the Slavery Abolition Act which banned slavery in all of Britain. It was important for the American Anti-Slavery Society to get their ideas and opinions out to see if the same change could happen in the United States.

I agree with the author, and I do find him convincing. Although, I would have to say I am bias because the way he present his argument would be similar as to how I would present mine. He might have used more of a logos approach, maybe from studies or statistics to support his statements to make an even stronger case. He used a lot of pathos, which could be considered an opinion of the author in some circumstances so he was probably contested for it. Over all, I do think he made good points about how no person should have to undergo such treatment on the account of others. People should be given the same rights whether white, black or any color.