The Light Bulbs Impact on Society

The Light Bulbs Impact on Society

The light bulbs impact on society was that people now had light at all times of the day and did not need to rely on sunlight.

Politics, culture, geography, economy

The light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison along with the team he was working with in 1879 in Melon Park New Jersey at Edison's Laboratory. While Thomas Edison was trying to create a lasting light bulb the economy was in a recession starting in 1873. The recession in now called the Long Depression and it mainly affected the united states as well as western Europe. The U.S. stopped using silver as a currency and switched mainly to gold causing deflation in the U.S..

Change of daily life, economy, politics/policy

Before the invention of the light bulb, people mainly used candles and gas lanterns for light when it was dark. Although people had this form of light, it was incredibly dim so they had to have candles everywhere. Because there was so many candles, houses often would burn down. Before the light bulb, life was much more dangerous caused by homes and other building catching on fire and killing people who would have been trapped in it. It was also much harder to put out fires back then compared to now. The light bulb also affected the economy by creating longer hours for the working class. Before work stopped before the sun went down. After the light bulb was introduced, work could last much longer into the day. From these extra hours, more products could be produced so it gave the economy a little boost. Now that people could use electricity instead of gas lanterns or candles, it significantly cut down on fires.

Environmental impact and unintended consequences

After years of having light bulbs to light up the night sky, it has caused a lot of light pollution. For a while mercury was needed in the light bulb, and it was dangerous for both humans and the environment. If one of the light bulbs would break, it would release the mercury which if inhaled would be poisonous to people or animals. Also when the light bulbs are thrown away, it would create air and water pollution. The mercury is able to seep into the groundwater and cause problems with clean drinking water.

Support for Thesis

In my original thesis I said, "The invention of the lightbulb was one of the most important technological advances in human history because it changed the structure of society and the economy." I think from completing PM3 this thesis has changed a bit. I now have learned more information than when I first made this thesis. I still agree with the original thesis but I think it has changed and developed more. From new found information I think I would be able to create a better thesis. The invention of the light bulb changed the world and was one of the most important technological advances in human history. The light bulb was able to completely change the structure of society and the economy as well as overall life for people and was able to lead to a lot more great inventions.

Annotated Bibliography

Adams, Mike. "Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Contaminate the Environment with 30,000 Pounds of Mercury Each Year." NaturalNews. N.p., 20 June 2007. Web. 09 Nov. 2016.

This source helped provide information about how light bulbs affect the environment

By the Mid-1800s, Early Pioneers Were Experimenting with. "CEO Blog: Life before Electricity: "It Was a Very Dark Place Indeed"" CEO Blog: Life before Electricity: "It Was a Very Dark Place Indeed" N.p., 12 Feb. 2012. Web. 09 Nov. 2016.

In this article it gave me useful information what life was like before and after the light bulb had been invented

"How Did the Creation of the Lightbulb Affect the Economy???" Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2016.

On this website people gave information about the economy during the years of the invention of the light bulb