The War of Currents began in 1888, marking a fierce competition between Thomas Edison's direct current (DC) system and the alternating current (AC) systems developed by George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla. This rivalry was not only a technological battle but also a public relations war that shaped the future of electrical power distribution. The eventual victory of AC systems led to widespread electrification and transformed modern society.

The War of Currents beginning in 1888 highlighted technological rivalries that inspired literary explorations of innovation and conflict. Poets began to reflect on the implications of progress and competition, weaving these themes into their narratives, as seen in the works of modernist poets who grappled with the changing landscape of their time.