Final answer:
Thomas Edison advanced electric lighting and power, Alexander Graham Bell developed the telephone which greatly improved communication, and Nikola Tesla contributed to the development of the AC electrical system, all of which significantly changed American society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contributions of Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and Alexander Graham Bell
Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and Alexander Graham Bell were influential inventors whose innovations significantly impacted American society. Thomas Edison is renowned for his work in electrical lighting, specifically the perfection of the electric lightbulb in 1879 and the establishment of the country's first power company. Edison's inventions allowed factories to extend their production hours beyond daylight, leading to economic growth and a shift in American lifestyle, including reduced average sleep per night.
Alexander Graham Bell made critical advancements in communication with his invention of the telephone. Securing the patent in 1876, he spearheaded the creation of the National Bell Telephone Company, which evolved into today's AT&T. The spread of telephones across the United States by 1900 drastically reduced rural isolation and transformed social interactions and business operations.
Nikola Tesla was an inventive genius who, although not detailed in the provided references, is widely recognized for his contributions to the development of alternating current (AC) electrical systems, which improved upon Edison’s direct current (DC) systems and were essential in establishing the electrical grid we know today. Tesla’s innovations in electrical transmission changed the American industrial and technological landscapes.