The Current War (2017) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Edison electrocuted a horse to demonstrate the dangers of Alternating Current (AC), which Westinghouse was promoting. He wanted to convince the public that AC was lethal and that his Direct Current (DC) system was safer. This was part of his smear campaign against Westinghouse's competing electrical system, in which he even called it 'Westinghouse, the horse.'

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Edison dismisses AC as dangerous without proof, hinting at his willingness to use extreme methods to protect his business interests.

• edison
• ac current
• horse electrocution
• westinghouse
• demonstration

Tesla left Edison Electric after disagreements with the company. Although Tesla demonstrated that AC was far more efficient than Edison's DC system, Edison refused to switch technologies because he was confident in his own DC patent. Tesla was also working under tight deadlines and felt his expertise wasn't being valued, so he eventually parted ways with the company.

Foreshadowing: Tesla observes Edison's Manhattan lighting demonstration from the crowd, showing his initial curiosity about Edison's work before joining.

• nikola tesla
• edison electric
• alternating current
• resignation
• technology dispute

Mary Edison became seriously ill during the early 1880s. Despite her declining health, Edison remained fixated on his work, dismissing her illnesses as minor. She eventually collapsed and was diagnosed with a serious condition. She later passed away, leaving Edison devastated. He found comfort in listening to a phonograph recording he had secretly made of her voice.

Foreshadowing: Mary speaks into the phonograph expressing her desire for Edison to build a fence, subtly hinting at her longing for normalcy and his neglect.

• mary edison
• death
• illness
• phonograph recording
• tragedy

Westinghouse won the contract to light the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago because his AC system was more efficient and cost-effective for transmitting electricity over long distances. Although Edison's team raised concerns about AC's safety, the organizers chose Westinghouse's proposal. His lighting system dazzled visitors and proved AC could power entire cities safely.

Foreshadowing: Westinghouse had earlier proposed using transformers to transmit AC electricity over greater distances at lower costs, which the fair organizers recognized as superior.

• westinghouse
• worlds fair 1893
• chicago
• ac current
• lighting contract

Edison developed the electric chair as a supposedly humane execution method, though he was personally opposed to taking life. When approached by someone interested in using electricity for executions, he was pressured into participating in the demonstration. The electric chair later proved problematic during actual executions, highlighting the ethical dilemmas tied to technological progress.

Foreshadowing: Edison's public electrocution demonstrations established his willingness to use AC as a weapon, foreshadowing his involvement with lethal applications.

• edison
• electric chair
• execution
• capital punishment
• ethical controversy

J.P. Morgan proposed merging Edison's company with others to form General Electric in 1892. Edison felt betrayed and fiercely opposed the merger because it meant losing control of his company. Morgan's plan left Edison with only a symbolic board position, despite his foundational role in the company's success.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Morgan had invested heavily in Edison, giving him the funding to expand, which established the financial power dynamics that later led to the merger.

• general electric
• jp morgan
• merger
• edison company
• corporate takeover

The rivalry centered on competing electrical systems: Edison championed Direct Current (DC), while Westinghouse promoted Alternating Current (AC). Edison believed DC was safer and more reliable, while Westinghouse argued AC could transmit power over much greater distances at lower costs. The conflict escalated into public smear campaigns, patent disputes, and ethical controversies like Edison's electrocution demonstrations.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Edison presenting his lightbulb patent, establishing his dominance before Westinghouse emerges as a challenger.

• edison
• westinghouse
• dc current
• ac current
• electrical rivalry
• patents

At the 1893 World's Fair, Edison acknowledged Westinghouse's success and admitted his own inventions had changed the world. They developed mutual respect despite their bitter rivalry. Edison recognized that Westinghouse's system would illuminate the future's brightest moments, and they parted ways with an understanding of each other's extraordinary contributions to technology.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, both men demonstrate genuine passion for innovation, hinting at a shared respect underneath their competition.

• edison
• westinghouse
• reconciliation
• respect
• worlds fair
• resolution

After losing the World's Fair contract, Edison hinted that his next project would eclipse his electrical work: the kinetograph, or motion picture camera. He reflected that this new invention would eventually surpass everything he had accomplished with electricity, foreshadowing his pivot toward film technology.

Foreshadowing: Edison had earlier developed the phonograph, showing his versatility in invention beyond electricity.

• edison
• kinetograph
• motion picture
• future invention
• film camera

Tesla and Westinghouse formed an alliance to develop revolutionary motors and power systems for the 1893 World's Fair after Tesla left Edison Electric. Their partnership combined Tesla's technical expertise with Westinghouse's resources and AC technology, allowing them to successfully demonstrate AC's potential on a large scale.

Foreshadowing: Tesla had earlier explained the advantages of AC to Edison, showing his commitment to the technology before finding a supportive partner.

• tesla
• westinghouse
• alliance
• partnership
• worlds fair
• motor development