In 1884, Tesla arrived in the United States with little money in his pocket and many dreams in his head. He was hired by the Edison Machine Works in New York and worked as an electrical engineer for Thomas Edison's company.
Tesla and Edison had very different personalities, and often clashed. Edison was a practical and experienced inventor, while Tesla was a dreamer and theoretician, always looking for innovative solutions. Even so, Tesla learned a lot during his years at Edison's company, working on projects such as improving the street lighting system.
In 1887, Tesla founded his own company, the Tesla Electric Company, and began to develop his own inventions. One of his first creations was the alternating current motor, which revolutionized the way electricity was transmitted and distributed.
The rivalry between Edison and Tesla intensified when Edison began to promote direct current as the best option for the transmission of electrical power. Tesla believed that alternating current was superior because it was able to transmit power over long distances with less power loss. This conflict became known as the War of the Currents, which culminated in Tesla's public demonstration of the superiority of alternating current.
Tesla's arrival in the United States marked the beginning of a new era of technological innovation in the country. Tesla established himself as one of the leading inventors and scientists of the time, and his contributions to science and technology are still remembered and celebrated to this day.