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The Telegraph was invented in the 1830s and emerged around 1837

Imagine living in a world where sending a message to another city could take days or even weeks. That was everyday life before the telegraph.

The invention of the telegraph transformed communication and became one of the most important technological breakthroughs of the nineteenth century. It changed the way people shared information, conducted business, reported news, and connected with one another.

The telegraph is most commonly associated with Samuel F. B. Morse, although several inventors contributed to its development. According to the Library of Congress, Morse became interested in electrical communication during a voyage from Europe in 1832 after learning about recent discoveries involving electromagnetism.

At the time, long-distance communication depended on physical transportation. Messages traveled as fast as horses, ships, or trains could carry them.

Morse believed electricity could solve that problem.

Working with Alfred Vail and other collaborators, he developed an electric telegraph system that used a

Huge impact on communication

series of electrical signals to send messages. Together they helped create what became known as Morse Code, a system of dots and dashes representing letters and numbers.

The breakthrough came on May 24, 1844.

According to the Library of Congress, Morse successfully sent the famous message, “What hath God wrought?” from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore. The demonstration proved that information could travel almost instantly across great distances.

The impact was enormous.

For the first time, communication was no longer limited by the speed of transportation. Information could move faster than people, animals, or vehicles. This development completely changed how society functioned.

Businesses quickly embraced the new technology.

Prices, orders, and financial information could be shared in minutes instead of days. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, telegraph networks became essential for commerce and helped connect markets across large geographic regions (Britannica).

The railroad industry also benefited.

Telegraph systems allowed railway operators to coordinate train schedules more effectively and improve safety. The ability to communicate instantly reduced the risk of accidents and made rail travel more efficient.

Journalism experienced a revolution as well.

Before the telegraph, newspapers often reported events long after they occurred. The telegraph made it possible to gather and distribute news rapidly. Britannica notes that the formation of the Associated Press in 1848 was closely tied to the growing use of telegraph communications for news reporting (Britannica).

Governments and military leaders also recognized the value of instant communication.

Telegraph 

The U.S. House of Representatives History Office explains that telegraph systems played an important role during the Civil War by allowing faster transmission of information from battlefields to government officials.

Like most technologies, the telegraph created challenges as well.

Information could spread quickly, but mistakes could spread just as fast. The technology also encouraged expectations of immediate communication, a trend that continues today with smartphones and social media.

Despite these drawbacks, the telegraph's importance cannot be overstated.

The Library of Congress describes how telegraph networks rapidly expanded across the United States and eventually connected continents through transatlantic cables.

Although newer technologies eventually replaced the telegraph, its influence never disappeared.

The telegraph was the first system that allowed people to communicate almost instantly across long distances. It laid the foundation for the telephone, radio, television, email, and the internet.

In many ways, the modern connected world began with a few electrical signals traveling through a wire.

AI DISCLOSURE: The post collaboration using Microsoft copilot.  I asked Copilot to help me improve the text by correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I asked Copilot to help me shape the text in a blog post format. After going over the text, I went back and added links that correlate to the text.

Why Are Antiwar Voices Hard To Find?

First Amendment is very important when people disagree with the government. 

 I think dissent is an important part of a democracy, especially when it comes to war. The First Amendment protects people’s right to express opinions that may go against the government or popular opinion. Looking at the history of World War I shows how important that protection is because people were actually punished and sent to jail for speaking out against the war. This shows how easily disagreement can be treated as a threat when the country is involved in a conflict.

After looking at Antiwar.com and The American Conservative, I noticed that they provide perspectives about war and foreign policy that I do not always see in mainstream news. Antiwar.com openly describes its mission as supporting non-interventionism and challenging U.S. military intervention. The site also says that it wants to provide a place for people to hear views that may not receive as much attention from traditional media.

I think one reason people may not hear these perspectives as often is because mainstream news

Mainstream news has limited time

organizations have limited time and space and often focus on the biggest stories and most prominent political voices. News coverage can also be influenced by what is considered important or newsworthy by editors and audiences. That does not necessarily mean that antiwar opinions are being intentionally censored. Instead, some viewpoints may simply receive less coverage or attention.

The fact that websites like these exist is important because people can seek out different perspectives for themselves. The American Conservative and Antiwar.com show that there are Americans who strongly question military intervention and U.S. foreign policy.

Overall, I think the First Amendment is especially important when people disagree with the government. People should be able to question wars, criticize military decisions, and express unpopular

B.O.R. 

opinions without being punished simply for having those views. Hearing different perspectives allows people to form their own opinions instead of only hearing one side.

Privacy, Online and Off

 

FLOCK cameras are being used worldwide and people have no idea. 

The video on online and offline privacy showed how much information is collected about our lives every day. From surveillance cameras and license plate readers to cell phone tracking and facial recognition software, privacy is becoming harder to maintain.

Many people assume they are only being watched when they are online. In reality, technology now allows governments and private companies to monitor activities in the physical world as well.

One example is the use of FLOCK cameras and license plate readers. These systems can record where people travel, who they spend time with, and how often they visit certain places.

The video also discussed data mining. Companies collect information from social media posts, websites,

Where a FLOCK camera may be hidden 

apps, and other online activity to build detailed digital dossiers about individuals.

They often use that information for behavioral marketing.

These issues affect me because I use a smartphone, social media, and online services every day. Like most people, I leave behind a digital trail that can be collected, stored, and analyzed without fully understanding how it will be used.

My friends and family are affected in the same way. Nearly everyone relies on technology for communication, shopping, banking, and entertainment, which means personal information is constantly being gathered.

The government should do more to protect privacy rights. Stronger laws should require companies to clearly explain what data they collect, how long they keep it, and who they share it with. Citizens should also have the ability to access, correct, and delete personal information whenever possible.

We also have a responsibility to protect ourselves.

What a FLOCK camera looks like 

People can use stronger passwords, enable two-factor authentication, limit what they share online, review privacy settings, and be more careful about agreeing to terms of service without reading them. Small steps cannot eliminate privacy risks, but they can reduce them.

Privacy is not just an online issue anymore. It affects where we go, what we do, and how much control we have over our personal information in an increasingly connected world.

AI DISCLOSURE: The post was created in collaboration with Microsoft Copilot. I took detailed notes while watching a 20-minute video about the FLOCK Cameras. In addition to the facts that I learned, I asked Copilot to help me improve the text by correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I asked Copilot to help me shape the text in a blog post format. After going over the text, I went back and added links that correlate with the text.

Speech Theories

My favorite speech theory is Individual Self-Fulfillment

When thinking about freedom of expression, my mind automatically suggests that I'm allowed to say whatever I want without the government getting in the way of it. After learning about the Eight Values of Free Expression, I began to think about this on a more personal level. The theory of Individual Self-Fulfillment stood out to me the most because it is more personal than political, which I am interested in. It gives leeway for people to express their emotions in a different type of way. A way where they can connect with one another through personality and creativity just by being themselves. Every day I scroll through hundreds of opinions. These opinions are expressed through social media; whether they are intelligent, misleading, or hilarious, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, which connects us in an inspiring way. 

Social Media is my main example I will be using today. Apps like Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, Etc

Freedom of Speech 

All allow us to express our emotions and our freedom of speech. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, there is always a wall between your voice and the screen. I'd like to explain this differently. You know when you're driving in the deepest parts of New York or New Jersey, and you get the raging drivers who are screaming at you through their car window. They are screaming at you because there is a window/wall dividing you and them, so you are not standing face to face with that person. The chances of that person acting that same way when there is no window separating you two are very low. This is how I think of people expressing their opinion online. This may allow those types of people to be able to build community and feel comfortable expressing themselves. 

Being able to express yourself through social media may help people find exactly who they are when they are growing up, and I think that is so important

First Amendment Written 

in today's society. For example, finding new interests like music or drawing and sharing videos online about it can help someone find their true passion. This leads me to believe that freedom of expression is not only whether the government allows us to speak, but more so if people feel like they can actually use that freedom. The First Amendment protects our ability to express ourselves, but social pressure can still influence whether we choose to speak or not, which is why I find social media platforms so important for this generation. 

In a world where so much of our communication happens online, I think this value of free expression is more important than ever. The ability to express ourselves allows us not only to be heard by others, but to better understand ourselves. 

Supreme Court Reflection

The Supreme Court and its lasting impact on American History. 

                                  

The U.S. Supreme Court is one of the most important institutions in American government. Although it is made up of only nine justices at a time, its decisions can affect the lives of millions of Americans.

One detail from the video that stood out to me was that more than 100 people have served as Supreme Court justices throughout the Court's history. That long history has allowed the Court to influence major moments in the nation's development.

Becoming a justice is not an easy transition. According to the video, new justices often describe joining the Court as a strange and overwhelming experience. It can take years for them to fully adjust to the unique responsibilities and traditions of the position.

The Court has also played a major role in some of the most controversial issues in American history. One example discussed in the video was Dred Scott, an enslaved man who went to court to claim his freedom. The Dred Scott decision became one of the most criticized rulings in Supreme Court history and helped deepen national divisions before the Civil War.

Shaping the nation through landmark decisions 

After the war, the nation adopted the 14th Amendment, which expanded protections for citizens and became one of the most influential parts of the Constitution. The video described it as a kind of "second Bill of Rights" because it greatly increased the rights protected by the federal government.

That amendment continues to shape Supreme Court decisions today.Another interesting point from the video was the contrast between the phrase "We the People" and the reality of early America. At the time the Constitution was written, the government represented only a small portion of the population. Many people, including women and enslaved individuals, were excluded from participating in the political process.

Over time, Supreme Court decisions and constitutional amendments helped broaden those rights and protections. The history of the Supreme Court is more than a story about judges and legal cases. It is also a story about how the United States has struggled, changed, and continued working toward a more inclusive definition of "We the People."

Before watching this video, I knew the Supreme Court was the highest court in the United States, but I did not realize how much its history reflects the nation's broader struggle over rights and equality.

One thing I learned that I did not already know was that more than 100 justices have served on the Supreme Court throughout its history. I also found it interesting that many new justices describe joining the Court as a strange and overwhelming experience that can take years to fully adjust to.

The most important takeaway from the video is that Supreme Court decisions can have long-lasting effects on American society.

The Court does much more than settle legal disputes. Its rulings help define the meaning of the Constitution and influence how rights are protected for generations. The video showed how major decisions have shaped the country's development and affected millions of people.

Clarance Thomas 

The most surprising thing I learned was the story of Dred Scott and his attempt to gain freedom through the legal system. The Court's decision in that case became one of the most controversial rulings in American history and helped increase tensions before the Civil War.

I was also surprised by the discussion of the 14th Amendment. The video described it as a "second Bill of Rights" because it expanded protections for citizens and gave the federal government a greater role in protecting individual rights. I had heard of the amendment before, but I did not fully understand how important it has been to later Supreme Court decisions.

The video changed the way I think about the Supreme Court because it showed that the Court is not just a group of judges interpreting laws. Its decisions have helped shape the meaning of citizenship, equality, and justice in the United States.

The discussion about "We the People" stood out to me as well. At the nation's founding, many Americans were excluded from participating in government. Over time, constitutional amendments and Supreme Court decisions helped expand rights to more people.

After watching the video, I see the Supreme Court as an institution that not only interprets the Constitution but also plays a major role in the ongoing story of American democracy.

AI DISCLOSURE: The post collaboration using Microsoft Copilot. I took detailed notes while watching a 20 minute video about the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition to facts that I learned, I asked Copilot to help me improve the text by correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation. I asked Copilot to help me shape the text in a blog post format. After going over the text I went back and added links that correlate to the text.

Top 5 news sources

 1. My Dad 

Chris Pelcher 

While I'm very close to my Dad, I have always gone to him with any questions I've had. He is a very conscientious man about the current news. He is always sending me interesting news articles on things that he thinks I would find interesting. For example, he likes to send me golf articles on what is happening on a day-to-day basis. For the more political side of things, he teaches me basically everything I know about politics because I was never really in the loop with all of it until I asked him.  

Instagram 

2. Instagram 

I use Instagram every day, while most of my generation does as well. I scroll on the main page wether if its to look at my friends' posts or to see pop culture news. I would say I get a lot of my news from Instagram because I follow many pop culture accounts. For example, an account called "hiddenny" is an account that I follow. They post almost every day, and they post cool pictures as well as New York news. My family and I are originally from New York, so I find the news interesting. 

X

3. X 

"X," Also commonly known as Twitter, is a very interesting platform to me. I have to be in the right mood to go on this app. Usually, Kanye West has to have done something terrible for me to go on the app and find out what he's done. I don't use this app on a day-to-day basis, unlike other people. I think it's too much for my brain, but to each their own. 

4. TikTok 

TikTok

TikTok has to be my favorite app out of all of these news sources. I go on TikTok when I wake up, when I'm bored during the day, and when I'm falling asleep at night. Most of the current trends come from TikTok, and I think that without it I would be far from all of Gen Z news. I think my generation would agree with this as well. Although TikTok can be funny and unserious, Many news sources have their own accounts and post on here, which I find interesting when it pops up on my For You page. 

5. YikYak

YikYak

YikYak is a college student app where you can be anonymous and post comments to your specific college's students. It can be funny comments or news that you think students should hear. Students and I have received news about HPU many times, and I would consider this a news source specifically for college students.