ChronoFive
Play today’s puzzle
Setting the scene
By 1844, communication took weeks. Samuel Morse developed a code of dots and dashes after his wife died while he was away. With $30,000 from Congress, he built a 40-mile line between Washington and Baltimore.
What happened
On May 24, 1844, Morse sent 'What hath God wrought' from Washington to Baltimore. The message took seconds. Within days, political parties used it to report convention results faster than trains.
Why it still matters
The telegraph revolutionized communication, shrinking America. By 1861 it connected coasts. It enabled railroads, news agencies, and transformed business and warfare. Lincoln directed generals by telegraph in the Civil War. By 1866 the transatlantic cable connected continents, creating the first instant information network.
Background
The words were 'What hath God wrought.'.