In the past, people used smoke signals as a form of communication;, but smoke signals could only send a few simple messages. Therefore,, so people replaced smoke signals forthem with letter writing., which because it was the only way to communicate long distance. In the late 1700′s and early 1800′s, the first telegraph was invented . The telegraph truly changed the world because before telegraphs, the country was very isolated from other regions of the world. The telegraph was truly influential in the growth of communication.