Final answer:
George Westinghouse won the contract to illuminate the Chicago World's Fair, which was a pivotal moment in the War of Currents, marking the triumph of alternating current (AC) over direct current (DC).
Step-by-step explanation:
The Climax of the War of Currents
The climax of the War of Currents, the intense competition between electrical systems, came when George Westinghouse won the contract to illuminate the Chicago World's Fair. This event was significant in showcasing the superiority and practicality of alternating current (AC) over direct current (DC), which was promoted by Thomas Edison. The victory of AC was instrumental in the widespread adoption of electricity in urban centers and marked a turning point for electric power distribution. George Westinghouse's AC power systems had a technical edge as they allowed electricity to be transmitted over greater distances, leading to an increase in production and the growth of cities. By the time of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, Westinghouse's AC technology was demonstrated on a grand scale, cementing the company's win over Edison's DC system in the 'War of the Currents'.