Amelia Soth

Across the country, impromptu speakers drew crowds and arrests alike, turning public oratory into a defining feature of civic life.

Common in colonial New England, bundling allowed a suitor to spend a night in bed with his sweetheart—while her parents slept in the next room.

From the light-bulb dress to galvanic belts, electrified clothing offered a way to experience and conquer a mysterious and vigorous force.