The telegraph is a communication device that sends messages over long distances using electrical signals. Invented in the early 19th century, it revolutionized how people communicated, allowing messages to travel much faster than by traditional methods like mail. The most famous telegraph system was developed by Samuel Morse, who created the Morse code to represent letters and numbers with dots and dashes. Telegraphs played a crucial role in connecting cities and countries, especially during times of war and economic change. They laid the groundwork for modern communication technologies, such as the telephone and the internet, making it easier for people to share information quickly and efficiently.