Changes

==Young Adulthood==

==Young Adulthood==

Edison was also an entrepreneur, and as a child made spending money by selling newspapers, candy, and fresh produce. As a teenager, in 1860, he decided to publish his own newspaper, ''"The Weekly Herald"'' which made a profit it's first edition and each one therafter, and focused on political news and the United States Presidential debates between [[Abraham Lincoln]] and Senator [[Stephen A. Douglas]]. Edison agreed with Lincoln's stance on emancipation, and volunteered to work for his campaign office, distributing campaign literature on his behalf.  

Edison was also an entrepreneur, and as a child made spending money by selling newspapers, candy, and fresh produce. As a teenager, in 1860, he decided to publish his own newspaper, ''"The Weekly Herald"'' which made a profit it's first edition and each one thereafter, and focused on political news and the United States Presidential debates between [[Abraham Lincoln]] and Senator [[Stephen A. Douglas]]. Edison agreed with Lincoln's stance on emancipation, and volunteered to work for his campaign office, distributing campaign literature on his behalf.  

Thomas was used to taking the initiative to learn on his own, and had a very inquisitive nature, a strong desire to learn, an excellent memory, and the ability to understand complex concepts. He considered his hearing loss to work in his favor, as he was not distracted by outside noises and able to concentrate on his own thoughts. His hearing loss increased over time, and in later years he lost all hearing in his left ear and about 80% of the hearing in his right ear.  

Thomas was used to taking the initiative to learn on his own, and had a very inquisitive nature, a strong desire to learn, an excellent memory, and the ability to understand complex concepts. He considered his hearing loss to work in his favor, as he was not distracted by outside noises and able to concentrate on his own thoughts. His hearing loss increased over time, and in later years he lost all hearing in his left ear and about 80% of the hearing in his right ear.  

At 15 years of age, Edison learned [[morse code]] and was hired as a telegraph operator. There were jobs available for workers of all ages, including youngsters, as many adult men were now engaged in fighting in the [[Civil War]].

At 15 years of age, Edison learned [[Morse Code|Morse code]] and was hired as a telegraph operator. There were jobs available for workers of all ages, including youngsters, as many adult men were now engaged in fighting in the [[Civil War]].

He worked in several telegraph offices, then decided to accept a job offer from the [[Western Union]] Company in Boston. He chose to move far from home as he felt Boston had a strong scientific community. He was known as a hard worker and routinely worked 12 hour days, 6 days a week. In the evenings after work, he developed his own inventions.

He worked in several telegraph offices, then decided to accept a job offer from the [[Western Union]] Company in Boston. He chose to move far from home as he felt Boston had a strong scientific community. He was known as a hard worker and routinely worked 12 hour days, 6 days a week. In the evenings after work, he developed his own inventions.