The invention of the telegraph in the 19th century greatly impacted communication. Developed initially by Samuel Morse and others, it allowed for the rapid transmission of messages over long distances using electrical signals. The telegraph revolutionized how information was communicated globally, paving the way for instant news dissemination and enhancing trade and diplomacy. It fundamentally transformed societal communication patterns and laid the groundwork for subsequent advancements, such as the telephone and the internet, forever changing human interaction.