Development of Communication: No More Snail Mail

Everest Leo

Mr. Roddy

IHSS

25 April 2022

Development of Communication in the United States Between the 19th and 20th Centuries



    Something that we take for granted nowadays is instant communication. It seems so easy to just call, text, or even facetime someone that it's hard to think how the world could function without it. And it can't function, at least not in the way we're used to now. Obviously, we still have a mailing system for physical packages and other things of the sort, but we don't often use letters to communicate anymore. Back during the 19th century, lots of things that we would just call to handle had to be handled through snail mail or telegraph. This is why the invention of the telephone in the late 19th century was so crucial to urban life. As a hub for commerce, culture, art, food, entertainment, and so much more, having fast and efficient communication was becoming a must-have, especially as cities expanded. The telephone, along with other factors, really allowed cities to become bustling incubators for businesses, which, in turn, developed the city even more and the cycle started. Only 25 years after the invention of the telephone, over 1.5 million units were in use, and of course, after another century or so, we developed the smartphone which completely changed life as we know it. Going back to the early years of the telephone, however, it also helped with job expansion because now, it was easier to talk to a business and place an order or use their services. This made businesses a lot busier and eventually, they needed more employees, so there were a lot more job opportunities.

    While the telephone was not as big of an invention as electricity, its impact on daily life definitely rivals other large innovations. I would argue, that the telephone, along with electricity and perhaps the computer paved the way for the modern societal structure of the U.S. and showed us what we could truly accomplish.

    

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